By Kim Paskorz

Eagle Staff Writer

ADAMS TWP — A township man claims he dropped off his daughter’s car at a service garage to have the air conditioning system recharged and that it had 850 new miles on it when he picked it up 10 days later.

According to court records, the car also had cookies in the glove box and the smell of cigarette smoke throughout the vehicle.

That’s the basis of one of two criminal cases police recently filed against Keith R. Smith, owner of the Lube Pro at 635 Route 228 in Adams Township.

The other case alleges that Smith was operating an unlicensed car dealership “for several years” out of the same business.

Smith, when contacted by telephone Thursday, denied any wrongdoing. Specifically, he said there’s no dealership at his site.

“We fix cars and that’s all we do. That’s it,” Smith said. “You are welcome to come to the court hearing and hear the evidence. ”

The allegations stem from a July 12 visit by a state police officer dressed in plain clothes, according to a criminal affidavit.

The investigating trooper, according to the court record, approached Smith at the business and inquired about buying a vehicle that is “good on gas and less than $6,000,” according to a criminal affidavit.

Smith, the court records allege, showed the investigator a half dozen vehicles to choose from, noting that he had titles for all but one of them. And Smith allegedly named prices.

Police returned in August to search the site and alleged 85 vehicles were parked on the lot, and numerous business papers documenting transactions were located in the office. A number of the license plates on the property were expired, and two trailer plates belonged to a Roaring Springs business that had previously reported them lost and gotten replacements, according to court records.

Smith, 60, of 1119 Stockton Ridge, Cranberry Township, faces two misdemeanor counts of theft, more than 100 summary charges related to registration plates, more than a dozen summary charges relating to vehicles’ certificates of title.

He is also facing one count of criminal mischief and one count of unauthorized use of automobile, which were filed by Adams Township police Wednesday.

According to court records, Donald Ellenberger told police that his daughter’s 2008 Toyota Camry was at the business from July 30 to Aug. 9 to have its air conditioning system recharged.

When the family got the vehicle back it allegedly had scratches, a missing front wheel cover and other damage. It also allegedly had 850 miles added to odometer and smelled like cigarette smoke, according to the victim who allegedly found Chinese Fortune cookies that didn’t belong in the car’s glove box.

Court records say an estimate to repair the damage is $3,267.

Smith, when interviewed by the Butler Eagle, said he had not received a copy of the allegations in this case yet. However, he said it’s common practice for mechanics to drive vehicles for diagnostic reasons if a check engine light is on.

A preliminary hearing for both cases is scheduled for Oct. 4 in the Evans City office of District Judge Wayne Seibel.