Altoona man gets probation in theft of woman’s medication

Bryley broke into elderly woman’s home, stole her medication

HOLLIDAYSBURG -- The city man who broke into an elderly woman's home and stole her medication was sentenced in plea court Friday afternoon to 18 months' probation.

William Joseph Bryley II, 43, pleaded guilty to a single felony count of criminal trespass in exchange for the probationary sentence. Bryley had been facing an additional felony count of burglary and single misdemeanor counts of theft and receiving stolen property, which were withdrawn and dismissed as a part of the deal.

"This is a situation where, initially, the offer was two to four years for burglary," First Assistant Public Defender John Siford said. "Bryley got himself into treatment in 2021 and has basically been in treatment of some sort since then in various locations."

Siford told Judge Jackie Atherton Bernard that Bryley was currently participating in a program in Baltimore, where he now resides, and no new charges had been filed since the day of the incident.

"He's standing before the court today to take responsibility and resolve the case," Siford said.

Assistant District Attorney Dani McCormick said the victim in the case was in agreement with the plea deal. She told Bernard they were willing to resolve the case for a probationary sentence as the victim was elderly and did not wish to go to trial.

"This is the way to resolve it that's in everyone's best interest," McCormick said.

When given the opportunity to address the court, Bryley said his prior record centered around substance abuse. In describing familial relationships, Bryley

said he was working to "slowly rebuild what I destroyed."

"I'm just continuing on this journey to sobriety," Bryley said.

In addition to sentencing Bryley to 18 months' probation, Bernard ordered him to pay a $200 fine, undergo drug and alcohol and mental health evaluations and have no contact with the case's victim. She then stated that Bryley would have the option to early termination of his probation if he successfully completed half of its term.

The plea resolves a seven-year-old case that was filed after the victim reported Bryley to Altoona police in August 2019 for entering her home without permission. The victim said she was home alone when someone, later identified as Bryley, began "pounding" on her door and windows. The victim called her daughter and then hid in the bathroom. While still hiding, the victim said Bryley pushed open the door to the bathroom and entered, the police report states.

Once Bryley exited the bathroom, he leaned against a table in the living room that had $40 on it. After Bryley left, the victim discovered the medication she kept in her bathroom, which consisted of approximately 90 hydrocodone pills and 80 Xanax pills, as well as $40 in cash, was missing, the report states.

Mirror Staff Writer Rachel Foor-Musselman is at 814-946-7458.