SUGARCREEK BOROUGH, Pa. (EYT) — A Franklin man facing charges for allegedly breaking into his ex-girlfriend’s house and stealing her dogs is due in court this week.

Court documents indicate 46-year-old Joseph Andrew Daley, of Franklin, is scheduled to stand for a preliminary hearing at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 24.

He faces the following charges:

– Burglary — Overnight Accommodation, No Person Present, Felony 1
– Criminal Trespass — Break Into Structure, Felony 2
– Theft By Unlaw Taking — Movable Property, Misdemeanor 1 (two counts)
– Criminal Mischief — Tamper With Property, Misdemeanor 3

According to a criminal complaint, around 6:47 p.m. on March 28, Lt. Baker of the Sugarcreek Borough Police Department was advised by Venango County 9-1-1 that a resident on Front Street reported their house had been broken into and two dogs were taken.

Lt. Baker and Ofc. Highfield arrived at the scene and spoke to the victim.

According to the complaint, the victim reported that her ex-boyfriend, Joseph Daley, had broken into her house and took both dogs, and stated it “had to be him because he knows that I care about the dogs and he wants to hurt me.”

The complaint notes that Lt. Baker observed that the front door was broken near the door handle along with the door jamb near the striker plate, and there was an open dog crate and no dogs in the residence.

After further discussion with the victim, Lt. Baker also learned that Daley had tried to keep the dogs from her in the past, according to the complaint. Lt. Baker also learned that Daley had a broken leg and drove both a black Cadillac four-door sedan.

The victim reported she was only away from the residence from 5:45 p.m. to 6:50 p.m.

Lt. Baker then spoke with neighbors and found a video of the property. According to the complaint, the video showed Daley arriving at the residence in a black Cadillac and walking to the front door, limping and using a cane with his left hand. The video depicted Daley pushing on the front door until it opens, then entering the residence and coming back out the front door with both dogs before getting into his vehicle and leaving the scene.

The complaint notes the victim was shown the video and identified Joseph Daley as the person shown breaking into the residence and taking the dogs. The victim also noted she received two missed calls from Daley at 6:26 p.m. and 6:23 p.m. that day.

Based on the investigation, Daley was arraigned in front of Magisterial District Judge Andrew F. Fish at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, March 29.

He was released from the Venango County Jail on March 29 after a $10,000.00 security was posted by a professional bondsman.

Authorities did not indicate whether the dogs were returned to their owner.