News

May 5, 2009

Lawyer: Attic dweller desperate for place to stay

Defendant charged with living in Plains Twp. attic waived right to hearing Monday.

By Edward Lewis elewis@timesleader.com
Staff Writer
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WILKES-BARRE – An attorney for a man charged with staying in an attic of a Plains Township home uninvited said his client did it out of desperation for a place to stay.

Stanley Wayne Carter, 21, was allegedly caught in the attic of Stacy Ferrance’s home, a double-block residence, on Wyoming Street on Dec. 26.

Police allege in arrest records that Carter was staying in the attic for about a week and would enter Ferrance’s residence through a hatch in the ceiling when she and her family were away.

Once in the residence, Carter stole food, clothing and Christmas gifts, including a laptop computer that he used to write his own “Stanley Christmas list,” police claim.

Ferrance said she had no idea an intruder was staying in her attic, just a few feet above where she and her three children sleep at night. She said she gets angrier the more she thinks about it.

“It’s disgusting; I’m so lost for words right now,” Ferrance said after Carter’s preliminary hearing in Central Court on Monday. “My 5-year-old is still afraid to go to bed at night. That’s the toughest part.”

Carter waived his right to a preliminary hearing, sending two counts of burglary, theft, receiving stolen property and criminal trespass to Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas.

Assistant District Attorney Nancy Violi withdrew two counts of criminal trespass against Carter.

Carter’s attorney, Luzerne County Chief Public Defender Basil Russin, said his client had no job and was desperate for a place to stay.

“(Carter) is very sorry and upset it happened. He was very peaceful up there and kept to himself,” Russin said.

Carter was staying with a family in the other half of the double-block residence, police said, but was asked to leave on or around Dec. 19.

Ferrance said she suspected something was wrong when she noticed gifts missing on Christmas and found a rear door open when she arrived home from visiting family on Christmas.

While checking the hatch to her attic, accessible in her bedroom closet, she noticed shoe prints on the wall on Dec. 26.

Police heard footsteps in the attic and called in the Swoyersville police canine unit to assist in searching the attic. Carter surrendered after he heard the dog barking, Ferrance said.

Carter declined to comment after his hearing, saying only he was surprised that his arrest has been reported worldwide.

He is scheduled to be formally arraigned in county court on March 13. He remains jailed at the county prison for lack of $25,000 bail.

Edward Lewis, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 829-7196.

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