Court Documents: Oil City Man Confesses to Burglarizing 257 Pawn

| July 26, 2016

handcuffs-crimeCRANBERRY TWP., Pa. (EYT) – An Oil City man is facing felony charges for an alleged burglary of a local business in Cranberry Township, Venango County.

According to court documents, Franklin-based State Police filed criminal charges against 46-year-old John Michael Caffarelli, of Oil City.

According to a criminal complaint, around 4:10 a.m. on April 11, Trooper Armagost, of Franklin-based State Police, met with a known man at 257 Pawn who indicated that someone had broken into the store. “A review of the video surveillance showed a light-colored Ford Focus approach the store and then a white male attempt to pry open the front door. The white male was also observed inside the store.”

The known man advised that the white male looked like a regular customer named John Caffarelli. Shoe prints were observed in the mud at the scene and photographed by Tropper Bingman, the complaint states.

Around 12:25 a.m. on April 12, Trooper Armagost interviewed John Caffarelli, and Caffarelli advised that he did not commit this crime. Trooper Armagost also observed Caffarelli’s shoes, and they appeared to be the same tread pattern as observed in the mud at the scene, the complaint indicates.

Around 11:45 p.m. on April 12, Trooper Armagost reviewed additional surveillance video (from April 10) from the scene. “The video shows John Caffarelli entering the store during normal business hours and attempting to pawn a television. Caffarelli was wearing the same clothes then as he did when he came back and broke into the store,” according to the complaint.

On May 28, Trooper Swatzler “interviewed John Caffarelli at his residence at which time he admitted to breaking into 257 Pawn,” the complaint states.

At 10:20 a.m. on May 29, Trooper Swatzler interviewed John Caffarelli at PSP Franklin. Once again, he “confessed that he broke into 257 Pawn, and he agreed to give a written statement,” the complaint indicates.

Based on his investigation, Trooper Swatzler filed a criminal complaint against Caffarelli in Magisterial District Judge Matthew Kirtland’s office.

Caffarelli was arraigned on July 25 at 1:37 p.m. before Judge Kirtland on the following charges:

  • Burglary – Not Adapted for Overnight Accommodation, No Person Present, Felony 2
  • Criminal Trespass – Break Into Structure, Felony 2
  • Criminal Mischief/Damage Property Intent, Reckless, Or Negligent, Misdemeanor 3

Bail was set at $15,000.00 unsecured.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on August 3 in Venango County Central Court with Judge Kirtland presiding.


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