DUBOIS – A DuBois man will stand trial for allegedly breaking into his ex-girlfriend’s home and taking Star Wars models.
Joseph Sabatose, 51, 288 Treasure Lake, DuBois, is charged with burglary, criminal trespass and theft by unlawful taking. He waived his right to a preliminary hearing Friday during Centralized Court at District Judge Patrick Ford’s office. He is free on $10,000 unsecured bail.
The charges stem from an incident in Sandy Township on Dec. 20. According to the affidavit of probable cause, the victim returned to her Treasure Lake residence to find a locked window had been entered and the back door was open.
She told an officer that Sabatose had lived with her in the residence for a time prior to 2009, and she felt he was responsible because he had previously left her messages regarding getting into the home to retrieve his remaining possessions.
The only items she found missing were some old Star Wars models.
The officer checked the window and saw a small piece of a window blind was broken and on the floor. There were footprints in the fresh snow on her back porch that the officer followed through the back yard into the woods. They continued approximately 200 yards to a tram road off of Jolly Roger Road and led to a set a tire tracks. The officer photographed the prints.
The officer then went to Sabatose’s residence where he saw identical tire tracks and foot prints. He then attempted to make contact with Sabatose but he was not at home.
Later the officer returned to the home and spoke with Sabatose, telling him he was there regarding the break-in. Sabatose denied being at the residence. The officer told him he knew what he had done and asked him to go to the police station where they could talk. He was also told to bring the things he had taken.
During his interview at the station, Sabatose said he was sorry and stated he had already tried to call the victim and had sent her a text message. He showed the officer the message in which he apologized to the victim for entering the home and taking “the stuff.” He asked her not to press charges.
Sabatose explained to the officer that he was hurting for money and had asked the victim numerous times for the rest of his belongings. He admitted he didn’t know what he was thinking when he manipulated the lock on the window and entered the home. He said he only took items that belonged to him. In a box he had two Star Wars models, two NASCAR models, and rosaries that he said had belonged to his grandfather. The models were old, vintage and still in the plastic wrappers.
When the officer spoke with the victim about the items, she said the rosaries must have been his because she was unaware they were even in the house. The two NASCAR models also belonged to Sabatose, but she said the Star Wars models belonged to her.