SELINSGROVE — Two men have been charged with felony theft for allegedly stealing a vehicle, cutting it up and selling the scrap for cash.
State police at Selinsgrove charged Gene Allen Derr Jr., 31, of 114 Sunbury St., Shamokin, and Michael James Brunetto, 28, of 682 Court St., Sunbury, with stealing a 1986 Chevrolet C60 flatbed truck valued at $2,500 from Hawk’s Nursery, Route 204, Penn Township, Snyder County, Aug. 8-12.
Police said the pair took the truck to Derr’s sister’s home at 248 Jockey Road, Union Township, Snyder County, where they cut it up and sold the scrap to Stoneroad’s Recycling in Northumberland County.
A recycling business employee confirmed that Derr brought in cut steel on three occasions in the week following the theft, court records said.
Derr admitted to police that he and Brunetto stole the vehicle and sold the scrap metal, according to records.
Police tape-recorded a phone call between Derr and Brunetto on Oct. 25 during which Brunetto allegedly said he would deny involvement in the theft.
Brunetto later told police that he didn’t steal the truck, but told Derr where it was and helped him cut it up afterward, court records said.
Both face charges of third-degree felony theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property, criminal conspiracy and misdemeanor criminal mischief.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Dec. 8 in the office of District Judge John T. Robinson, Selinsgrove.
