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News

Monday, September 6, 2010

December 25, 2009

Man gets jail time over stolen jewelry

By Sheena Delazio sdelazio@timesleader.com
Staff Writer

Items stolen:

Apple computer – $1,700

iPod – $225

Microsoft Office program – $134

Men’s Movado watch – $800

Men’s Seiko watch – $300

Women’s Movado watch – $400

Two-tone Movado watch – $800

Gold bracelet – $400

Gold diamond earrings – $900

$25 gold piece dated 1929 – $600

Gold link bracelet – $400

Gold earrings (three to four pair) – $800

Gold amethyst earrings – $260

Pearl necklace – $400

King Tut 18k gold pendant – $300

Gold watch with diamond – $600

Men’s gold ring – $750

Gold ring with star stone – $150

Gold square pendant – $80

Gold bracelet with precious stones – $300

Men’s gold ring with diamonds – $1,200

Gold diamond tennis bracelet – $100

Gold chain with religious metal – $200

Yellow and white gold bracelet – $200

14k gold ankle bracelet – $150

14k gold box chain – $150

14k gold opal ring – $150

14k gold bracelet – $100

14k gold ankle bracelet with cubic stones – $50

Plastic change container containing $200

WILKES-BARRE – A Berwick man was sentenced Wednesday to nine to 18 months in county prison on charges he stole more than $12,000 worth of jewelry and other items from a Salem Township house in May.

William Lee Houck, 34, of East 8th Street, was sentenced on one count of receiving stolen property.

Luzerne County Court Judge Peter Paul Olszewski Jr. also ordered Houck to maintain a full-time job once released from prison, to undergo a drug-and-alcohol evaluation, to have no contact with the victims involved and to pay more than $7,000 in restitution.

Houck, represented by attorney Joseph Saporito, pleaded guilty to the charge in November. He was given 142 days credit for time already served.

Assistant District Attorney Albert Yacoub prosecuted the case.

According to court records, on May 25, police were called to a 15th Street residence in Salem Township for a report of items that were stolen sometime between 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.

Police said someone entered the house through a garage and took 30 items, including a $1,700 Apple computer, a $1,200 men’s gold ring with diamonds and a gold piece dating back to 1929 and worth $600.

Police said seven of the items – two gold necklaces, four bracelets and an opal ring – were bought from Houck for $345 by the Main Street Trading Post.

Police seized the items from the Trading Post and they were identified by the Salem Township homeowner as items taken from the house.

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