Trending
From Mirror staff reports
Two men and a woman face charges related to the theft of money from Pennsylvania Skill Machines in Kimmel Township, Bedford County.
According to state police, the owner of Wright Milling Co. in Queen reported that on Dec. 1, 2021, someone stole $7,500 from the machines at his business. Due to that incident, he installed a surveillance system.
On Dec. 3, 2021, the owner reported that about 3 a.m., someone again stole money from two machines in the back of his business. This time, taking $2,310, he told police.
Surveillance video showed a man reaching into one of the machines, police reported.
During the investigation, police identified the male as Keshaun Randolph and noted that Zacheriah J. Hammel and a minor had participated in the theft as well, court documents state.
On Feb. 8, 2022, police interviewed Randolph at the Blair County Prison and were told he had been to Wright Milling two or three times. He told police that Hammel, the minor and Jhimenna Rachell Torres all played roles in the theft, adding they had made off with "a couple stacks" previously.
Randolph said Hammel invited him to participate in the Dec. 3, 2021, theft and he, Hammel and the minor entered the business while Torres stayed in the vehicle. Hammel, he said, pried the machine open with a "metal tool" and stole about $2,000, which they divided between the four of them.
Court documents state that Randolph said he gave money to his mother for keys to a new apartment and used the rest to take his sister shopping for clothes and shoes. Police showed Randolph a photo from the surveillance video and he identified himself, Hammel and the juvenile. In addition, he identified himself reaching into the machine.
When asked about the Dec. 1 theft, Randolph said he played no role in that but suspected Hammel and the minor perpetrated it, police said. He said Hammel and the minor conducted numerous thefts at various locations, including Wright Milling Co.
On Oct. 20, 2022, police interviewed Hammel, who initially denied being a part of the theft but, when shown the photograph, admitted he had been there. When asked what tool he used to open the machine, he said it might have been a crowbar from the back of his car.
He told police he didn't want to be snitch but said the minor and Randolph "definitely planned on" the theft and that the theft was "definitely why we went down there at 2 o'clock in the morning."
He claimed he had no play in it, court documents state, and said the minor and Randolph had been there before. He told police they said "you there's nobody there ... so we're probably going to rob it."
Charges were filed against all three on July 27.
Torres, 20, of Altoona, was arraigned Monday before Magisterial District Judge Tonya M. Osman on a felony charge of conspiracy to theft and a misdemeanor charge of corruption of minors. Unable to post $25,000 bail, she was remanded to the Bedford County Correctional Facility.
Hammel, 23, of Roaring Spring, was arraigned Wednesday before Magisterial District Judge Kevin R. Diehl on felony charges of theft and conspiracy to theft, along with misdemeanor charges of corruption of minors and criminal mischief. He posted 10% of $10,000 bail and was released from jail.
Both Hammel and Torres face preliminary hearings Aug. 30 in Bedford County Central Court.
Randolph, 23, of Altoona, faces felony charges of theft and conspiracy to theft, along with misdemeanor charges of corruption of minors and criminal mischief. His case is listed as inactive in online court documents.