A city man accused of using sex to help steal pills, cash and electronics from a woman in November is now in custody.

Ryan K. Keller, 39, of 1804 11th St. was arrested Tuesday by Altoona police on misdemeanor conspiracy and receiving stolen property charges after he failed to show up for his originally scheduled preliminary hearing at Central Court in late January.

According to Altoona police, Keller and two other people, April Shumac and James Hewitt, planned to steal from the woman when they went to her apartment on Nov. 2.

Police said Keller and Shumac distracted the woman and her boyfriend in the woman’s bedroom with “sexual activities” while Hewitt gathered up valuables in the apartment. Police said Hewitt, 42, left the apartment with a Wii game system and accessories. Keller is accused of taking Neurontin pills that belonged to the woman, as well as a smart watch, Wii games, game controllers, speakers, headphones and a cellphone, police noted.

Keller allegedly sold a basket full of items he stole from the apartment to Hewitt a few days later for $10, but kept the stolen cellphone and used it as his own.

Hewitt gave the Wii console to his girlfriend as a birthday present, but when she turned it on and saw the victim’s name on the system’s password-protected login screen, she called the victim and told her she had the system and accessories, police said. The girlfriend then turned the stolen items over to police.

The 34-year-old Shumac allegedly admitted to Altoona police Detective Cpl. Terry Merritts on Dec. 13 during an interview at the Blair County Prison that she plotted with Keller and Hewitt to steal from the victim. The next day, Hewitt gave a taped statement to police and allegedly confessed, telling police about the $10 basket of stolen goods and the cellphone Keller was using.

Shumac and Hewitt both remain free on unsecured $10,000 bonds having waived their charges on to Blair County Court in March and February, respectively.

Keller was jailed Wednesday after his arraignment before Magisterial District Judge Todd Kelly, who set bail at 10 percent of $7,500. A preliminary hearing is slated for April 12.

Mirror Staff Writer Greg Bock is at 946-7458.