Dean Krelko

A Lyndora man pleaded guilty June 4 to breaking into his neighbor's apartment in February.

Dean R. Krelko, 56, pleaded guilty to felony trespass and misdemeanor theft before Butler County Judge William Shaffer.

The plea agreement calls for a sentence of 9 to 23½ months in Butler County Prison, followed by 12 months of county probation. He will be ordered to complete the jail drug and alcohol program and to pay restitution and fines when he is sentenced June 13.

He remains free pending sentencing on $10,000 unsecured bail

Butler Township police initially charged him with felony burglary and trespass as well as misdemeanor theft and receiving stolen property after the incident at an apartment in the 600 block of Hansen Avenue on Feb. 12.

Police said Krelko broke into his neighbor's apartment, stealing a pair of televisions, a mini fridge and printer.

A witness reported to the victim seeing a man taking property from the victim's apartment, investigators said. The witness only knew the man as “Dean,” but also knew he lived in an apartment there. “Dean” claimed to be the maintenance man and told the witness that he was treating the victim's apartment for bed bugs, police said.

The victim then called police, reporting that she was missing a 55-inch TV and a 32-inch TV, a compact refrigerator and a printer.

Officers checked her apartment door and found “tool marks from a pry tool or screwdriver,” documents said, around the door knob mounting, as well as weather stripping which had been tampered with.

After speaking with the landlord, police identified Krelko as a possible suspect, and executed a search warrant at his apartment.

Police said that when they knocked on Krelko's door and got no answer, they forced their way in. They found him lying on a bed.

They also found the suspected stolen mini fridge and printer, as well as a screwdriver.

Police seized the stolen items and returned them to the victim's apartment.