SUGARCREEK BOROUGH, Pa. (EYT) — A Reno man was held for court yesterday on charges related to a burglary that occurred in the Sugarcreek area in April.

According to court documents, the following charges against 18-year-old Drake Evan Shoemaker, of Reno, were held for court on Wednesday, July 10:

– Burglary — Overnight Accommodations; Person Present, Felony 1 (two counts)
– Criminal Trespass-Break Into Structure, Felony 2
– Possessing Instrument Of Crime With Intent, Misdemeanor 1 (two counts)

The charges have been transferred to the Venango County Court of Common Pleas.

Shoemaker remains lodged in the Venango County Jail.

The charges stem from a burglary that occurred on April 12 at a residence on Hidden Valley Drive in Franklin, Venango County.

According to a criminal complaint, Lieutenant Baker, of the Sugarcreek Borough Police Department, was called to a residence at the above-described location around 7:38 a.m. on April 12 for a report of a burglary.

Chief Robert Wenner and Lieutenant Baker then proceeded to the scene to speak to the victims.

According to the complaint, the female victim stated that she was awakened early in the morning by a noise coming from the attached garage, which she thought was a bird. She opened the inside door to the garage and asked who was there, but no one answered. The victim said then went and sat down in the living room, but after some time she heard the door opening to the inside of the residence. She asked who was there again and the door closed quickly.

The female victim reported that when her husband went downstairs, she was at the kitchen window and then saw a person getting into a red, four-door Buick which then pulled away. She stated it was parked over by the shed.

The male victim then went downstairs to the basement, when he got down there he noticed a person on the other side of the glass door who appeared to be drilling out the door handle. The victim then pointed his gun at this person, who was outside was wearing a black mask and carrying a small duffel bag which had put items into. The person then left going towards the shed.

Lieutenant Baker collected several drill bits and screwdriver bits lying on the ground by the basement door, and also noted fresh drill marks on the key lock to the door. Chief Wenner found two sets of footprints in the yard coming from around from the front of the residence to the rear: one much smaller than the other. Photos were taken of the prints and tire tracks. The complaint notes the tire marks showed the vehicle came in and did a u-turn to point facing out toward the roadway for leaving. The shed was empty.

According to the complaint, Lieutenant Baker spoke with the victim’s grandson, who stated it may have been Drake Shoemaker.

Lieutenant Baker interviewed Shoemaker on May 29.

The complaint notes that Shoemaker said he had nothing to do with the burglary but believed it was three other people that he was able to provide information on. He stated another known female was looking for a gun and was bragging about a gun from the residence in question. He reported he told the known female about an expensive .22 revolver and the residence, but couldn’t believe she would do that.

The known female was interviewed.

She reported that she was with Shoemaker in April, a few days prior to the burglary, driving around the Pleasantville and Titusville area, when he drove down through Two Mile and back toward Franklin. She reported that she didn’t really know where they were but they drove down a dirt lane, then turned in and parked by a shed. She said Shoemaker told her it was his grandmother’s place and said to be quiet, but ask they got closer to the house, he put a mask on and she realized it was not his grandmother’s place, the complaint states.

According to the complaint, the woman reported she said “let’s leave,” but Shoemaker went to the door of the garage, which was locked, and then walked out behind the house down to the basement, which was also locked. They then returned to the vehicle and left, going out a different way than they had come. She noted that Shoemaker didn’t want the lights on, and they stopped by a large barn, where Shoemaker got out and checked the barn. He told her there were motorcycles and four-wheelers inside.

The woman reported she said “let’s go,” again, but he didn’t turn the lights on, and they then went across the road and hit the ditch before leaving, coming through Franklin back to Oil City.

According to the complaint, the woman also said that two days later, Shoemaker came home early in the morning after being out all night with her vehicle, and “he looked like he seen a ghost.” She told police Shoemaker had said he was “back at that house but the old guy had a gun,” and said he had to leave. The woman was able to identify the residence as the one Shoemaker took her to prior to committing the burglary. She also advised what when Shoemaker lived with her, he left a cordless drill and some bits when he moved out, which police were able to recover.

Other Cases Against Shoemaker:

Escape:

Around 12:00 p.m. on Monday, July 8, Shoemaker was at the City of Franklin Police Department in the custody of the Venango County Booking Officer as an inmate/prisoner being held at the Venango County Jail on multiple charges, including felony aggravated assault and burglary.

Police say around 12:15 p.m., while being placed in a vehicle for transport back to the Venango County Jail, Shoemaker ran from the booking officer who had him in custody. Franklin Police Officers were then notified and began a search of the area, assisted by Sugarcreek Borough Police Department and other county agencies.

Shoemaker was located several blocks away from the police department and was taken back into custody by officers.

He was arraigned at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 9, in Magisterial District Judge Matthew T. Kirtland’s office on a third-degree felony charge of Escape.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 17 at 1:30 p.m. in Venango County Central Court with Judge Kirtland presiding.

Aggravated Assault:

According to court documents, one second-degree felony count of aggravated assault filed against 18-year-old Drake Evan Shoemaker, of Reno, was waived for court on Wednesday, June 26.

On June 5, Patrolman Floor, of the Franklin Police Department, was dispatched to the Venango County Jail for a report of an assault.

According to the complaint, Patrolman Floor was informed that Drake Shoemaker hit a known victim in the face with a hard plastic food tray, causing the victim to require transport to the hospital for ten stitches in his chin.

The complaint notes that video surveillance of the incident was obtained and Shoemaker was observed attacking the victim on the video.

The case is currently working its way through the Venango County Court of Common Pleas.

Conspiracy Kidnapping and Related Charges:

Drake Shoemaker was arrested on the following charges stemming from a kidnapping that occurred on Wednesday, January 23, at Oak Hill Apartments in Franklin.

– Conspiracy — Kidnap To Inflict Inj/Terror, Felony 1
– Burglary — Overnight Accommodations; Person Present, Bodily Injury Crime, Felony 1
– Conspiracy — Crim Tres-Enter Structure, Felony 3
– Conspiracy — Riot-Intent To Commit Felony, Felony 3
– Conspiracy — Terroristic Threats W/ Int To Terrorize Another, Misdemeanor 1
– Conspiracy — Unlawful Restraint/ Serious Bodily Injury, Misdemeanor 1
– Stalking — Repeatedly Commit Acts To Cause Fear M2 Conspiracy — Simple Assault, Misdemeanor 1
– Recklessly Endangering Another Person, Misdemeanor 2
– Conspiracy — False Imprisonment, Misdemeanor 2
– Conspiracy — Coerce/Threat To Commit Crime, Misdemeanor 2
– Unsworn Falsification to Authorities, Misdemeanor 2

Charges were waived for court on June 12.

A formal arraignment is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. on July 18 in Venango County Court of Common Pleas with Judge Boyer presiding.

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