Seneca Man Charged After $17,000 Stolen from Impounded Vehicle; Second Suspect Dies

| February 17, 2018

CRANBERRY TWP., Pa. (EYT) – A 39-year-old Seneca man is facing felony theft charges after a man who is now deceased was caught on video stealing $17,000.00 from an impounded vehicle at Venango Towing in Cranberry Township, Venango County.

Court documents indicate that Franklin-based State Police filed criminal charges against 39-year-old Barry Lewis Stover Jr. on February 15, 2018, at District Judge Patrick Lowrey’s office.

According to a criminal complaint, Trooper Haun went to Venango Towing and Recovery along State Route 257 in Cranberry Township around 10:15 a.m. on June 15, 2017, and spoke with the owner.

The owner showed Trooper Haun surveillance video footage depicting an incident that occurred around 10:40 a.m. on February 12, 2017. It depicted a larger, heavy-duty white pickup truck traveling down Seneca Hill. The vehicle depicted is believed to be a white 2011 Chevrolet 3500 HD owned by Barry Lewis Stover, Jr..

At approximately 10:43 a.m., the same truck traveled back up Seneca Hill. The truck stopped momentarily in front of “257 Buy, Sell, and Trade,” just south of Venango Towing. A second suspect – a known Oil City man who has since passed away in an unrelated incident – exited the passenger side of the vehicle and ran to the entrance of Venango Towing’s impound lot. He jumped the fence and approached a 2011 Ford F-150 belonging to a known man. The truck was involved in a DUI crash earlier that night and had been towed to Venango Towing, the complaint states.

The man then jumped into the bed of the truck and shattered the window; however, he was unable to enter the vehicle for unknown reasons. He was finally able to gain entry to the truck through its driver side door. He then reached across the front seat of the vehicle toward its passenger side floor. The individual then exited the vehicle and fled the scene with an object believed to be a box.

The box contained $17,000.00 belonging to a known victim. An additional $1,000.00 cash was found by Venango Towing and Recovery inside the vehicle during their basic impound inventory search. The $1,000.00 was taken to the Oil City Police Department for safekeeping.

On September 7, 2017, Tpr. Haun received a supplemental report from Chief Robert Wenner of the Oil City Police Department, relative to the investigation. In the report, Chief Wenner said he had a conversation with Barry Lewis Stover, Jr. around 2:00 p.m. on February 26, 2017, at a sporting event in Oil City. Chief Wenner said Stover approached him and started speaking to him about the theft. Chief Wenner indicated that he was surprised Stover was speaking to him because he knew about Stover’s alleged involvement in the incident, according to the complaint.

The report states that Stover became very nervous as Chief Wenner told him his truck was captured on video at Venango Towing and Recovery traveling down the hill and then traveling immediately back up. Stover reportedly asked Chief Wenner what would happen next in the investigation.

Chief Wenner replied by telling Stover to come to the police station so they could speak further and have a member of Franklin-based State Police assist with the interview. The report states that Stover left the immediate area for a short period of time, but returned to speak further with Chief Wenner and asked him if everything they discussed was “off the record.” Stover also allegedly said, “What if the money just came back? Would this all go away?” and asked what he “would be looking at” for committing the crime.

Stover refused to name the individual who climbed the fence at Venango Towing impound lot and said he would say he was the one who climbed the fence and took the money. Stover spoke about how (his alleged involvement in the crime) was going to ruin his reputation, his business, and put a strain on his marriage. Chief Wenner replied by telling Stover he should have thought of that before he committed the crime, the complaint indicates.

Stover told Chief Wenner, “it happened so fast.” Stover also told Chief Wenner he and the other individual were traveling down Seneca Hill, and the individual asked him, “Do you know how much money is in that truck?” Stover said, “We drove to the bottom of the hill and turned around and did it. It happened that fast.” Stover also told Chief Wenner “the money could be returned.”

Tpr. Haun said Stover remained in the vehicle while the suspect who is now deceased broke into the truck and stole the money. He later gave the money to Stover, according to the criminal complaint.

Police did not indicate how Stover and the second suspect knew the money was in the truck.

Stover was arraigned on the following charges at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 15, in Judge Lowrey’s office:

– Theft By Unlawful Taking-Movable Property, Felony 3
– Receiving Stolen Property, Felony 3
– Theft From A Motor Vehicle, Misdemeanor 1

He is currently free on $20,000.00 unsecured bail.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, February 21, with Judge Lowrey presiding.


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