Two Weis Market Robbery Suspects Accused Of Bank Heist

The Lewistown Sentinel

January 12, 2005

By Frank J. Jost

Sentinel Reporter

Two Juniata County men facing charges in connection with the Nov. 24 robbery of the Mifflintown Weis Market now face additional charges, stemming from the Oct. 19 robbery of the First National Bank of Mifflintown in East Waterford.

Dustin J. Swartz, 20, and Stanford “Tommy” Adler, 19, both of Port Royal, were arraigned before District Justice Jacqueline Leister on the new charges Tuesday. A police criminal complaint filed by Pennsylvania State Police Lewistown states that Swartz is charged with robbery, terroristic threats, theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property. Adler is charged with criminal conspiracy.

Swartz and Adler were transported to Justice Leister’s office by Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Investigators David Clemens and Douglas Cramer. Both suspects were clothed in orange scrubs, their hands cuffed and feet restricted by leg irons. When asked by a reporter if they had any comment on the bank robbery charges, Adler remained silent, while Swartz simply responded “No, sir.”

According to the criminal complaint, Swartz and Adler conspired to commit a robbery together at the 1st National Bank of Mifflintown, East Waterford Branch, shortly before 10 a.m. on Oct. 19 of 2004. The complaint states the two men met at Swartz’s residence the morning of the robbery and left in an Oldsmobile Cutlass owned by Frank J. Swartz. The two suspects then proceeded to the bank and parked the car behind the garage.

The complaint continues by stating that Adler remained with the vehicle while Swartz entered the bank. Swartz then approached the teller and pointed a gun at her and said “cash”. The teller put cash into a bag and handed it to Swartz, who then exited the bank. The complaint states Swartz then returned to the car and Adler drove them back to Swartz’s residence, where they counted and split $1,044 taken from the bank.

Both suspects appeared before Leister, and were returned to the Juniata Co. Prison, each in lieu of $100,000 bail on the new charges. Leister said the new bail amounts are in addition to each suspect’s previous bail of $500,000 stemming from the Weis Market robbery charges. Preliminary hearings for both men concerning the bank robbery charges have been set for Thursday, Feb. 17 at 9:30 a.m. before Justice Leister, although that date is subject to change.

“We were prepared for this, we knew it was coming…we’ll see what the evidence shows (at the preliminary hearing),” said Swartz’s defense attorney Justin McShane during a telephone interview Tuesday afternoon. ” Dustin continues to have the strong support of not just his family, but also many people in the community.”

A telephone message left for defense attorney Michael Sheldon of Lemoyne, who is now representing Adler, was not immediately returned on Tuesday.

Swartz and another suspect in the Weis robbery, Michael S. Bryan, 19, of Mifflin, both waived their preliminary hearings in that case last week. Their next appearance is scheduled for the Juniata Co. Court of Common Pleas on Feb. 7 at 9:30 a.m.

Regarding the Weis robbery, Swartz is charged with robbery, two counts each of robbery of a motor vehicle, kidnapping, burglary, theft, receiving stolen property, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and firearms not to be carried without a license.

Bryan is charged with conspiracy to commit kidnapping, burglary, robbery, robbery of a motor vehicle, theft, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.

Bryan remains free on $100,000 bail.

Adler is scheduled for his preliminary hearing concerning the Weis robbery at Justice Leister’s office on Jan. 27 at 1:30 p.m., along with two more suspects in the case, Douglas L. Foose, 24, and Allison J. Smith, 18, both of Mifflintown and both charged with criminal conspiracy. Foose and Smith also remain free on $20,000 bail each.

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