Bryan Faces Burglary, Theft Charges In Mifflin County
The Lewistown Sentinel
May 27, 2005
By Frank J. Jost
Sentinel Reporter
A Mifflin man who pleaded guilty Wednesday to charges stemming from the Nov. 24 robbery of the Mifflintown Weis Market is now facing additional charges in Mifflin County.
According to district court documents, those charges involve the alleged theft of six handguns from Lewistown Hunting and Fishing on Nov. 23. Police allege at least three of those guns were used by defendants in the commission of the Weis robbery.
Michael S. Bryan, 20, is charged with one count each of burglary, criminal conspiracy, criminal trespass and theft by unlawful taking, stemming from his alleged involvement in the theft of the handguns, according to documents.
Bryan’s attorney, Philip Masorti, of State College, said Bryan received his preliminary arraignment on the charges before Magisterial District Judge Barbara Clare on Monday.
“We got the call from Judge Clare’s office on May 20, and we responded within 24 hours,” Masorti said.
Bryan also waived his preliminary hearing and formal arraignment on the charges Monday, Masorti said. Regarding this incident, Bryan is scheduled to appear in Mifflin County Miscellaneous Court on Aug. 30.
Bryan remains free on bail in both incidents.
“In this particular case, our intention is to sit down with District Attorney Steve Snook in the near future and discuss in detail how the case should be resolved,” Masorti said. Snook was unavailable for comment Thursday.
Documents also list Stanford T. Adler and Dustin J. Swartz, two of Bryan’s co-defendants in the Weis robbery case, as participants in the alleged theft of the guns. Those documents include transcripts of interviews conducted by police with Adler and Swartz.
In those transcripts, Adler and Swartz both say that Bryan came up with the plan to steal the guns from his uncle’s store, as part of the larger plan to rob the Weis market the next day. According to statements in the transcripts, Swartz allegedly acted as a driver, Adler allegedly assisted with smashing the glass door, and Bryan allegedly entered the store and removed the guns.
Documents indicate all six guns were recovered during police investigation of the Weis robbery.
It was unclear Thursday as to when Adler and Swartz might be charged in connection with the incident. Calls to their respective attorneys and the investigating police officer were not immediately returned Thursday.
Adler, Bryan and Swartz all entered guilty pleas this month to charges stemming from the Weis robbery, where a store employee was allegedly forced to open the safe after hours and remove about $36,000 dollars in cash.
Swartz is scheduled for sentencing on the Weis charges in the Juniata County Court of Common Pleas on June 9. Sentencing dates for Adler and Bryan are pending, while two other co-defendants, Douglas L. Foose and Alison J. Smith, face further court action in the Weis case.
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