SUNBURY - A young Paxinos man charged with stealing jewelry from the home of Shamokin City Councilman R. Craig Rhoades was sentenced Monday to one year of supervised probation and ordered to make more than $500 restitution jointly and/or severally with a co-defendant in the case.
Colin Parsons, 20, who pleaded guilty to theft by unlawful taking in July, also was ordered by Northumberland County Judge William H. Wiest to pay a $250 fine, costs of prosecution and an Act 35 supervision fee of $50 per month.
Additional charges of criminal conspiracy and receiving stolen property were not prosecuted as part of a plea agreement reached with the county district attorney's office.
Parsons and his girlfriend, Carrie Ann Phillips, 22, of Coal Township, were charged by Shamokin Patrolman Shane Mowery with stealing several items of jewelry, including a 10-karat gold fireman's ring, a five-stone diamond ring, a 10-karat black onyx ring, a gold cross, two gold cuff links and a Switzerland gold coin. At the time, an approximate value of $12,500 was given for the items.
Police said the jewelry was stolen between April 6 and May 13 from the residence of R. Craig and Pamela Rhoades, 815 N. Shamokin St., while the victims were away on vacation.
The defendants are accused of selling the jewelry at Ye Olde Coin Shoppe, 137 E. Independence St., whose owner, Richard Wright, contacted R. Craig Rhoades after recognizing the gold fireman's ring had the initials "RCR" engraved on the inside.
Parsons admitted to police during the investigation that he did sell some items at Ye Olde Coin Shoppe on May 14, but claimed an unknown male gave him the jewelry to sell for cash in exchange for a cigarette. After selling the jewelry, Parsons claimed he gave the cash to the unknown male and received a couple of cigarettes.
On Oct. 9, Phillips applied for acceptance into the county's Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) program. If she's accepted and successfully completes the ARD program, Phillips could have the charges expunged from her record.
Authorities said all the jewelry stolen from the Rhoades residence has been returned to the victims. But Parsons and Phillips are still responsible for paying a total of $579.05 restitution to Ye Olde Coin Shoppe.
