OAKLAND TWP — State police this week charged a township man with trying to hide evidence that allegedly tied his son to a suspected chop shop in Butler County.

Jason J. Trufley, 44, is charged with receiving stolen property, tampering or fabricating physical evidence, and hindering apprehension, all misdemeanors.

District Judge Lewis Stoughton on Monday issued an arrest warrant for Trufley.

Police in January arrested his son, 23-year-old Jacob G. Trufley, 23, of Oakland Township, and Austin M. Rottman, 23, of Clearfield Township after turning up a purported chop shop at Rottman’s home on Shuler Road.

A warrant search of the property uncovered numerous vehicle parts including evidence of a stolen 2002 Ford F450 diesel pickup, police said.

Rottman allegedly admitted his role to investigators and implicated Jacob Trufley in the chop shop operation.

Both suspects were arrested Jan. 28 and placed in the Butler County Prison. Rottman was released that same day after posting $25,000 bail.

The younger Trufley remains jailed on $55,000 bail.

After getting out, Rottman immediately went to Jason Trufley’s home, according to court documents. The two discussed getting rid of stolen items that were at the Trufley property.

During their chop shop investigation, police identified those items as stolen,

On Jan. 29, the elder Trufley spoke to his son at the prison by telephone, documents said. Inmates are aware that such phone calls are recorded.

Investigators later listened to the recorded conversation between father and son, during which Jason Trufley allegedly implicated himself.

On the recording, document said, the elder Trufley admitted that Rottman helped him “clean up” the suspected stolen property and haul it away in a truck.

“You don’t have to worry about that crap,” he assured his son, according to a police affidavit.

Jacob Trufley and Rottman are awaiting trial on felony charges of operating or conducting a chop shop, altering or destroying a vehicle identification number, receiving stolen property, and two counts each of conspiracy.

In a separate pending case in Butler County Court, both defendants are also charged with stealing $10,000 worth of tools and other property in January from a gas well site in Oakland Township.