Trio accused of burglary, theft at business garage
MERCER TWP — A suspected burglary and theft of tens of thousands of dollars in property from a northern Butler County business garage was a family affair, authorities said.
Arraigned in the alleged weekend caper were Justin W. Ealy, 32, of Summit Township and Matthew J. Bowser, 29, of Allegheny Township.
The defendants' uncle, Leroy D. Bowser, 51, of Emlenton, is also wanted on an arrest warrant.
State police accused the trio of targeting a trucking company on Station Road in Mercer Township sometime between 1:30 and 10 a.m. Saturday.
Among the estimated $50,000 in items stolen from the garage, police said, was a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, a Yamaha all-terrain vehicle, a Stihl concrete saw and other tools, aluminum rims and two CB radios.
Police said Ealy on Sunday texted a picture of the saw, valued at more than $1,000, to another man, who already knew about the break-in.
The man showed the picture to Daniel Dellich, the business owner, who recognized the saw as his. Authorities, in turn, were notified.
Police subsequently set up a sting to catch Ealy, according to charging documents, using the man to whom he had tried to sell the stolen saw.
At a pre-arranged meeting Sunday night in Franklin Township, Ealy showed up with the saw, believing the man was going to buy it.
Troopers, however, were waiting for him. Ealy also is accused of bringing his 12-year-old son with him that night.
Police later drove the boy back to Ealy's home, where they found the ATV stolen from the business garage, documents said. Some of the other items were also allegedly recovered.During an interview at the police barracks in Butler Township, Ealy allegedly confessed to the burglary.He told investigators that he and the two other defendants drove to the victim's business in a borrowed truck, documents said.Ealy recounted that the elder Bowser cut a padlock on the garage to get inside. They then allegedly took the property.On Monday, District Judge Bill O'Donnell arraigned Ealy on felony charges of burglary and trespass and misdemeanor charges of receiving stolen property and child endangerment.Police said they plan to add another charge of felony theft against him.He is being held in the Butler County Prison on $25,000 bail while awaiting his preliminary hearing Aug. 7 at O'Donnell's office in Slippery Rock. No attorney is listed for him in online records.Arrest warrants were issued for Leroy Bowser and Matthew Bowser, who are both charged with burglary, trespass and theft, all felonies.The younger Bowser turned himself in Wednesday at O'Donnell's office. He was accompanied by his attorney, Joseph Hudak of Pittsburgh.He was arraigned and placed in the county prison on $5,000 bail. Hudak afterward declined to comment.
