CLEARFIELD – A Clearfield burglary suspect is saying she committed the crime to look for money that was hidden in the basement of her grandfather’s former home.
Peggy L. Little, 54, of Clearfield has been charged by Chief Vincent McGinnis of the Clearfield Borough police with a felony count each of criminal trespass and burglary. Her bail is set at $25,000.
Little waived her right to a preliminary hearing Wednesday during centralized court at the Clearfield County Jail.
The charges stem from an incident that occurred April 10 on Fourth Avenue, Clearfield, according to the affidavit of probable cause.
A resident told officers he came home from work early around 10:50 a.m., and while in his kitchen, he heard someone in his basement.
A short time later, a woman, later identified as Little, emerged from the basement and called out for the former resident of the home. She proceeded to the kitchen sink where she began to wash her hair.
The resident said Little was covered with dirt and cobwebs, and when he checked his basement, he discovered she had entered a crawl space underneath his home.
He said he neither knew Little, nor gave her permission to be inside his home. When he called for police assistance, she left the area, but her vehicle was still in the driveway.
Officers began to search the surrounding area on foot with assistance from the Lawrence Township police. At approximately 12:09 p.m., Little emerged from the home next door.
She was positively identified as the unwanted woman in the first resident’s home. She was asked why she was inside and replied her grandfather lived there years ago.
Little reportedly went on to say she was looking for a backpack full of money that was hidden in the basement.
During her transport, she began to make statements and McGinnis activated his in-car camera recording system. He proceeded to recite her Miranda Warnings.
Little was asked again why she was inside the home without permission. She again said she was looking for a backpack full of money that was hidden in the basement.
