CLEARFIELD – Three Clearfield teens are facing charges for their alleged involvement in a home burglary in an attempt to steal firearms.
Alexander R. Frantz, Mason R. Warren and Clayton T. F. Brown, all age 18, were arrested by Clearfield Borough police following the incident on June 19.
Frantz is charged with felony burglary, criminal trespass and theft by unlawful taking as well as misdemeanor resisting arrest.
Warren is charged with felony firearms not to be carried without a license, possession of firearm with manufacturer number altered, conspiracy/burglary, conspiracy/criminal trespass and conspiracy/theft by unlawful taking.
Brown is charged with one count of felony burglary.
All three teens waived their rights to preliminary hearings Wednesday during centralized court at the Clearfield County Jail.
In addition, Warren had his bail reduced from $50,000 to $25,000 monetary, which he posted; Frantz had his bail modified from $50,000 monetary to unsecured; and Brown’s bail remained set at $10,000 unsecured.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, information was received that Frantz, Warren and Brown may attempt to enter an unoccupied Woodland Road residence through a dog door with plans to steal firearms sometime after sunset June 19.
Police were aware, based on previous information, that Warren is in possession of and carries a 9mm subcompact pistol with an obliterated serial number.
Police said it was also believed that the teens planned to take three firearms from the Woodland Road residence and go “shoot up” a Curwensville residence.
Assistant Chief Nathan Curry confirmed Warren didn’t have permission to be at the Woodland Road residence, as well as that it was believed Warren carried around a pistol and was involved in drug activity.
Because of the information received, police conducted surveillance of the residence that evening and observed three males heading in its direction from Fairview Road.
Sgt. Daniel Podliski was positioned at the rear of the residence and observed a motion light come on. He also saw a male near the rear door but then Officer Tyler Brahosky advised the males were leaving.
After several minutes, the motion light deactivated, and Brahosky observed the males now at the front of the residence, where another motion light was activated.
At this point, Podliski moved towards the residence and once he gained a better vantage point of the rear door, he observed a male who then walked away.
Brahosky advised Podliski that the males were now at the side of the residence and shortly thereafter Podliski observed a light turn on inside and a male opened the rear door.
The other two males were seen walking away from the residence on Fairview Road, but then they turned around to head back towards the residence.
As officers started to close in, Frantz reportedly started to walk out of the residence. Podliski displayed his duty weapon and ordered Frantz to show his hands.
Frantz, however, turned around and reentered the residence and the officer followed. As Podliski cleared the first room, he saw Frantz exit via an open window, which was later found to be the point of entry.
Frantz fled north on Fairview Road but was taken into custody by officers. Warren and Brown were then located out front of the residence, and also taken into custody.
During a routine search, police located a pistol in Warren’s front waistband, which had an obliterated serial number. It was loaded with a round in the chamber, which was cleared by an agent from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
In an interview with police, Warren said he purchased the firearm with the obliterated serial number about one month earlier from someone near Altoona. He said it didn’t have a magazine, so he had to order one.
Warren allegedly admitted that he conspired with Frantz and Brown to enter the Woodland Road residence with an intent to steal a firearm.
Once at the residence, he said he backed out because his new girlfriend lived there, but he still agreed to be the “look out.”
When asked about his drug use, Warren admitted to receiving approximately one pound of marijuana, cartridges and marijuana pens through the mail from places like New Mexico and California.
He said the cash found in his wallet, which totaled $160, was from the sale of such items. He also told police there was some paraphernalia and approximately 10 grams of marijuana still at his apartment, and he gave consent for police to conduct a search.
In his interview with police, Frantz said Warren told him about the guns and came up with the idea to enter the residence through the dog door. Frantz said plans were for him to enter and then let Warren and Brown inside.
Once they arrived at the residence, he said they discovered that neither he (Frantz) nor Warren or Brown would fit through the door. He said when they first tried to get in, they saw a vehicle and got scared.
He said they went down the road but then – as a group – decided to try again. Frantz said he was unable to get in through the rear door but found an open window.
He said he entered first and opened the rear door for the others. He said they were there for pistols, but that he didn’t know how many or what kind.
Frantz said Warren had plans to sell the guns, but he also reportedly admitted that he told Warren and Brown that he wouldn’t go along with the crime, unless he got a gun out of it.
During the interview, Frantz reportedly admitted to having sold marijuana, and also to purchasing it from Warren on several occasions. He said his phone would contain messages that confirmed his involvement in the sale of the drug.
He said some items at Warren’s residence belonged to him (Frantz), such as those on the kitchen table including a scale, a glass jar containing marijuana, pipes and other items of paraphernalia.
Police conducted a search of Warren’s residence, which turned up the items listed by Frantz. Items reportedly included two glass pipes, a scale, two metal grinders with residue, clear bags, pipe-cleaning tools and a glass jar with two clear bags of marijuana.
Podliski NIK-tested the green, leafy substance from the glass jar, which showed positive for the presence of marijuana, according to the affidavit.