OIL CITY, Pa. (EYT) — An Oil City woman has been incarcerated after she allegedly aided a man wanted on an active arrest warrant.
Court documents indicate the Oil City Police Department filed criminal charges against 38-year-old Melinda Jane Craig, of Oil City.
According to a criminal complaint, on May 20, Melinda Craig reported an unauthorized use of her motor vehicle to police. Charges were filed against the known man who had Craig’s vehicle and a warrant was issued for him. Oil City Police then received information that Craig had direct contact with him while knowing he had an active warrant.
The complaint states that on Friday, July 13, Craig contacted Chief Wenner and reported the wanted individual had been at her residence and had just left, traveling down the hill. Officers responded to the location and surrounding areas and dispatch contacted surrounding police agencies, but they were unable to locate him.
On Thursday, July 19, known persons reported to the Oil City Police that Craig had been communicating with the wanted individual and had allowed him to stay at her residence knowing there was an active warrant his arrest, the complaint indicates.
According to the complaint, information was also provided to police that on Friday, July 13, when the wanted individual was at Craig’s residence, he was there for approximately twenty to thirty minutes, and Craig then waited an additional twenty minutes before reporting to police that he was at her residence, ensuring enough time to hinder and prevent police from locating him.
Additional information provided to police indicated that the wanted individual planned on leaving the state, informed Craig, and Craig aided and abetted his flight from the state, the complaint states.
According to the complaint, on Friday, July 20, officers of the Oil City Police Department conducted an interview with Craig at the Oil City Police Department. Craig acknowledged that she had traveled to the Franklin area with another person and picked up the wanted individual, knowing there was an active warrant for his arrest. She also acknowledged that he was at her residence for a short period of time and that she failed to notify the police until after he had left.
Craig was arraigned at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, July 20, in Magisterial District Judge Andrew F. Fish’s office on the following charges:
- Hinder Apprehension/Prosecution-Provide Aid, Misdemeanor 2
- Hinder Apprehension/Prosecution-False Information To Law Enforcement Officers, Misdemeanor 2 (two counts)
- Obstruct Administration of Law/Other Government Function, Misdemeanor 2
Unable to post $2,500.00 monetary bail, she was lodged in the Venango County Jail.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 25, with Judge Fish presiding.
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