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HOLLIDAYSBURG -- Two of the three Michigan men accused of stealing computer game consoles and other items from area Walmarts, including the store on Plank Road, rendered guilty pleas for sentences with five years' probation and $4,406 in restitution.
Javion Sol-Duran Nelson, 22, Roseville, Mich., and John Alante Johnson, 22, Detroit, arrested in January, rendered the pleas Tuesday to a felony receiving stolen property and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a small amount of marijuana.
Blair County President Judge Elizabeth A. Doyle, who accepted the pleas, imposed the recommended sentences that put both men in a position to be released from the county prison.
A third person charged in the theft, James Edward Britt, 24, Warren, Mich., who court records show has been out of prison on bail, is expected to address his Blair County charges in court on April 17.
Online court records also show that the men have pending criminal charges in Centre and Mifflin counties where their bail obligations have been met.
Allegheny Township police filed charges against Nelson, Johnson and Britt after a Jan. 16 traffic stop on Plank Road, north of Convention Center Boulevard. The department initiated the stop after being contacted by the Altoona Walmart Asset Protection Department about an alleged theft and with information about a theft from the Walmart on Atherton Street in Centre County.
After securing a search warrant for the trio's vehicle, police reported finding two PlayStation 5 game consoles, four Quest 2 Oculus sets, six Nintendo Switch gaming consoles, a burnt marijuana cigarette, two small bags of raw marijuana and a small bag of THC edible candy.
As part of the proposed sentence, Doyle ordered Nelson and Johnson to make restitution of $1,055 to the Walmart on Atherton Street, $1,257 to the Walmart on Benner Pike and $2,094 to the Walmart in Lewistown. If Britt enters a plea, he is to share in the restitution.
While the Altoona Walmart reported theft of goods adding up to $1,047, District Attorney Pete Weeks said their items had been recovered so no restitution was due to that store.
Court documents filed in Centre County indicate that the Michigan men posed as delivery service drivers who advised store personnel that they were picking up items to be delivered to customers. At the Benner Township Walmart, charges indicate that Johnson and Nelson pretended to use a cellphone to scan and pay for items. Britt, in that transaction, allegedly reported that his phone was going dead and walked out of the store with a console.
Doyle also agreed that Johnson and Nelson could apply to have the supervision of their probationary sentences transferred to Michigan where they are expected to return.
Mirror Staff Writer Kay Stephens is at 814-946-7456.