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Man's stolen items show up on Facebook flea market

Adopted son accused of theft

ALLEGHENY TWP — State police say a Facebook page helped lead to the arrest of a suspected burglar.

The alleged crook, Denny J. Winner Jr., 21, of Butler Township, is accused of hawking the stolen goods via an online flea market.

District Judge Lewis Stoughton on Tuesday arraigned Winner on felony charges of burglary, theft, receiving stolen property and criminal use of a communication facility.

He remains in the Butler County Prison on $10,000 bail.

Police suspect Winner between Sept. 17 and Monday broke into Samuel Sheppeck’s home in the 900 block of Maple Furnace Road, taking power and hand tools, a pair of boots and a compound bow.

The break-in was no random crime, according to investigators. Winner is identified in charging documents as Sheppeck’s adopted son and he used to live at the house.

But Sheppeck told police that the defendant had not been permitted at the home since he moved out when he turned 18.

A neighbor of Sheppeck’s apparently played a key role in solving the crime. The neighbor on Monday informed the victim that Winner had posted items for sale on a Butler flea market Facebook page, documents page.

Sheppeck took a look at the page and recognized those items as his. He notified authorities.

Investigators on Tuesday spoke to Winner, who admitted he had the victim’s bow and at least some of the reportedly stolen tools, documents said.

Police later obtained a search warrant and recovered those same items from the defendant’s home.

A preliminary hearing for Winner is set for 3:45 p.m. Tuesday at Stoughton’s office in Chicora.

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