CLEARFIELD – A Houtzdale man convicted of stealing a vehicle from Jacob George Ford was given a lengthy state prison sentence during sentencing court Tuesday.
Bruce Irwin Hockenberry, 58, was found guilty of theft by unlawful taking, F3; receiving stolen property, F3; and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, M2 after a trial in June. He was acquitted of a burglary charge for allegedly breaking into the car dealership to remove a key.
Judge Paul Cherry sentenced him to 30 months to seven years in state prison. He owes $1,000 in restitution to the dealership and more than $7,800 to its insurance company.
Prior to sentencing, District Attorney William A. Shaw Jr. stated that this was not Hockenberry’s “first rodeo.” He added that there was nothing indicating that he “will stop his behavior.”
Hockenberry addressed the court, stating that he had been out of prison for 15 years when he stepped into this “without realizing what I was getting into.” He commented that the judge could give him 10 years because it “doesn’t matter.”
Testimony in the trial revealed that on April 24, 2015 in Houtzdale Borough, someone broke a garage window and entered the dealership. When employees checked the area, they saw a key was missing. This key was to a black 2015 Ford Escape, which was missing from the lot.
On April 26, 2015, a man on a four-wheeler came across the vehicle in the woods near Hockenberry’s home. This man remembered reading about the missing vehicle and called police. Hockenberry’s fingerprints were found on a CD in the vehicle.
Two state troopers testified that prior to a preliminary hearing in this case, Hockenberry apologized for taking the vehicle. Another trooper said while he was fingerprinting Hockenberry, he confessed to taking the vehicle, driving it around and then leaving it in the woods.
In 1993, Hockenberry was sent to state prison for six to 15 years for statutory rape, indecent assault and corruption of minors.