CLEARFIELD – A Curwensville man accused of burglarizing a convenience store and taking up to $18,000 was sentenced to state prison Monday during colloquy court.
Police say an accomplice told them Shad Lucas Bloom, 34, was the one who broke into the Curwensville store and took the cash from the ATM on April 14.
On Monday, Bloom pleaded guilty to felony conspiracy/burglary, theft by unlawful taking and criminal mischief and was sentenced by President Judge Fredric J. Ammerman to serve one to six years in state prison.
Bloom was ordered to pay only $4,267.50 in restitution.
District Attorney Ryan Sayers noted that the restitution is being split between Bloom and his co-defendant, Damion McGary, 29, also of Curwensville. The rest of the money has been recovered, he stated.
Prior to sentencing, Bloom apologized to the owner of the business saying he was “in a bad place.” He added that he wants to take classes at state prison so he can become a “better person.”
According to the affidavit of probable cause, as police were investigating the burglary, McGary was mentioned by the employees as a suspect who had seen the ATM being filled with cash.
McGary had done contracting work for the store, was aware the security cameras were disabled and was angry the owner had not paid him, they told authorities.
While police were looking for Bloom in an unrelated matter, they discovered he had been in contact with McGary.
When McGary was taken into custody for outstanding warrants, he had $510 in cash.
In an interview with investigators, McGary reportedly confessed to committing the burglary with Bloom.
He said Bloom broke into the store and took the cash from the ATM. Afterwards, he allegedly gave McGary $945 for being a look out and providing transportation to and from the scene.
McGary’s phone had several messages between McGary and Bloom, which confirmed McGary’s story, according to the criminal complaint.
McGary is charged with five felony counts of conspiracy and receiving stolen property. His preliminary hearing originally scheduled for April, is now set for July 26.
This is not Bloom’s first burglary.
In July 2007, Bloom was sentenced to two-and-a-half to five years in state prison for burglarizing four businesses in the Grampian/Curwensville area.