By Amanda O’Rourke
SUNBURY — Mark Brumbach, the alleged leader of a burglary ring that robbed homeowners of up to $200,000 worth of possessions in Northumberland and Snyder counties, was heard for the first time in district court Thursday, but he didn’t seem to remember much.
Brumbach testified during the preliminary hearing for co-defendent Kyle Aurand, who is facing misdemeanor charges of receiving stolen property and criminal conspiracy for his alleged involvement in the pawning of a television set that was stolen from the home of a Northumberland woman while she was overseas.
Aurand was the only one of the nine charged in the burglary ring to sit before District Judge Carl Rice for a preliminary hearing.
Brumbach was questioned by Northumberland County District Attorney Anthony Rosini and Aurand’s defense attorney, Greg Stuck, regarding whether Brumbach saw Aurand in his now-defunct pawn shop with Michael Wagner when Wagner is alleged to have sold the TV to Brumbach.
Brumbach waffled, unable to remember when he saw Aurand with Wagner — whether it was when Wagner is alleged to have first brought in the stolen TV or when Wagner returned later with the TV’s remote control. He couldn’t remember if he saw Aurand in the store or if he saw Aurand in his car.
Brumbach finally seemed to settle on Wagner first bringing in the television by himself, then returning with Aurand to drop off the remote.
“Listen,” Brumbach said to Stuck. “This was back in April. I don’t remember exactly what went on that day.”
Brumbach, however, did remember one comment Aurand is alleged to have made to him, which contributed to Aurand’s charges being sent to county court.
“Kyle said maybe I shouldn’t have (the TV) in the front window,” Brumbach said, referring to the former M&J; Cash Converter store, 367-369 Market St., Sunbury.
Brumbach put two and two together. He told Rosini: “I would think it might be stolen.”
Rice determined there was enough evidence to send Aurand’s misdemeanor charges on to county court. Aurand has been free on bail since his Sept. 25 arraignment.
“Mark Brumbach doesn’t know what he’s talking about,” Stuck said before Rice made his ruling. “His testimony is highly suspect, and he spent the entire time answering my questions with, ‘I don’t know.’ ”
Other co-defendants in court Thursday were Anthony Lawrence Dunka, Nicholas Hoffman, William Carroll Ladd and Kenneth W. Wilkinson.
Dunka and Hoffman waived their rights to preliminary hearings and will face their charges in county court. Wilkinson was charged with criminal conspiracy to commit theft by unlawful taking and making false reports for his role in the theft of his girlfriend’s laptop computer. Police dropped his conspiracy charge, and Wilkinson waived his right to a hearing on the false reports charge.
Ladd, who previously faced felony charges of criminal conspiracy to commit burglary, receiving stolen property and aiding the consummation of a crime, saw his charges withdrawn.
Investigating officer Wade Lytle, of the Sunbury Police Department, would not comment as to why the charges were dismissed.
Also charged in the burglary ring is Michael A. Cellitti, 49, of 841 N. Fifth St., Sunbury, who is accused of leading the ring along with Brumbach. He is free on $100,000 bail.
Also facing charges are Michael Warren Wagner, 26, of 1322 Queen St., Northumberland; Adam Osman, 30, of 1875 Brush Valley Road, Sunbury; and Robert Michael Boardman, 379 Front St., Northumberland.
