Oil City Man Accused of Selling Shed That Did Not Belong to Him

| January 25, 2023

CORNPLANTER TWP., Pa. (EYT) – A local man allegedly sold a shed in Cornplanter Township that did not belong to him.

According to court documents, Franklin-based State Police filed criminal charges against 58-year-old Ronald Anthony Harkless, of Oil City, in Magisterial District Judge Andrew F. Fish’s office on Friday, January 20.

According to a criminal complaint, on January 5, State Police in Franklin were contacted by a known person who stated that he recently purchased a shed from Ronald Harkless for $600.00 from the Facebook marketplace.

The person said that Harkless advised him he was not the owner of the shed but that he had permission to sell the shed for his friend who is incarcerated, the complaint states.

The victim said that a family member had reached out to him after learning who he purchased the shed from and advised him to look into whether Harkless had permission to sell the shed. After hearing that information, the victim said he immediately contacted the State Police in Franklin, the complaint indicates.

Police informed the victim that the shed will remain on that property and that they would follow up with him in a few days, the complaint notes.

Police then contacted the owner of the shed and asked if he had given anyone permission to sell it, and he said “no,” according to the complaint.

Police then called the victim back and advised him that the owner never gave Harkless permission to sell his shed, the complaint states.

Harkess faces the following charge:

– Theft by Deception – False Impression, Misdemeanor 1

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, February 22, at 1:30 p.m., in Venango County Central Court with Judge Fish presiding. 


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Category: Local News, News, Police & Fire Calls

Jacob Deemer is a reporter for EYT Media Group, who is based out of Venango County. He started his career as a sports writer for a local newspaper before contributing to TheHockeyWriters.com as a beat writer for the Pittsburgh Penguins. He has spent over 6 years covering sports, crime, and local news in Venango, Clarion, and Jefferson Counties.
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