CLARION CO., Pa. (EYT) — Charges have been filed against a Centerville man accused of defrauding a victim out of over $40,000 in lumber.

Court documents indicate the Clarion-based State Police filed criminal charges against 42-year-old Earl Yokum Wangler.

According to a criminal complaint, on September 23, 2019, Trooper Berggren, of the Clarion-based State Police, was assigned to investigate a report of bad checks and theft offenses offenses at a location on Fern Road, north of Route 322, in Ashland Township, Clarion County.

Through investigation, it was determined Earl Wangler and the victim had entered into a lumber transaction where the victim had delivered approximately eight loads of lumber to Wangler.

The complaint states the victim contacted Wangler about payment and then received a series of eight checks from May 30, 2018, to November 2, 2018, and one check, dated August 9, 2018, in the amount of $1,000.00, had cleared.

However, according to the complaint the other checks, listed below, were placed on uncollected hold for insufficient funds:

• Check 10027 in the amount of $7,886.08
• Check 10032 in the amount of $7,063.71
• Check 10043 in the amount of $8,065.70
• Check 10045 in the amount of $8,281.82
• Check 10038 in the amount of $7,595.05
• Check 7224 in the amount of $1,000.00
• Check 7246 in the amount of $1,000.00
• Check 7256 in the amount of $1,000.00

The complaint notes the victim was penalized for five of the bad checks in the amount of $50.00.

According to the complaint, in total, Wangler defrauded the victim out of $41,942.36 from the date of May 30, 2018, to the present time without compensation or communication.

Wangler was arraigned in front of Magisterial District Judge Jarah Lee Heeter at 10:30 a.m. on January 16, on the following charges:

– Theft By Deception-Failure To Correct, Felony 3 (seven counts)
– Receiving Stolen Property, Felony 3 (seven counts)
– Bad Checks, Misdemeanor 1 (eight counts)

He is currently free on $10,000.00 unsecured bail.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 2:45 p.m. on Tuesday, January 28, with Judge Heeter presiding.