News

May 23, 2009

W-B man shot in foot charged in robbery-baiting scam

City police allege man tried to rob victims who were lured to home.

By Edward Lewis elewis@timesleader.com
Staff Writer
Edward Lewis on Facebook   |   @TLEdLewis on Twitter

WILKES-BARRE – Using crutches to get around because of a gunshot injury to his foot, Jerome Francis Kuren hobbled inside a courtroom on Friday to be charged for allegedly robbing a man who was taken to a Pine Street home by a woman.

It is the third time since May 11 that Kuren, 31, of Scranton, has been charged by police for robbing men at the home, according to arrest and court records.

The latest charges alleged Kuren attacked Robert Olaski with a club inside 41 Pine St. on May 3.

Olaski told police, according to the criminal complaint, that he picked up Melissa Dunn on South Main Street after Dunn asked him for a ride home.

Olaski drove Dunn to the home and was invited inside when Kuren came down stairs holding a club, attacking Olaski, the criminal complaint says.

Olaski alleged, according to the criminal complaint, he was knocked to the floor and Kuren forcibly removed his wallet, containing approximately $500, and two pocket knives from his pockets.

Olaski fled the home and reported the alleged incident to police.

Police said Olaski identified Kuren from a series of photos on Thursday. Dunn hasn’t been charged in connection to alleged incident on May 3.

Kuren was arraigned by District Judge Martin Kane in Wilkes-Barre on two counts of robbery, and one count each of theft and simple assault. He was remanded to the Luzerne County Correctional Facility for lack of $60,000 total bail.

Kuren suffered a gunshot wound to his foot during a similar incident at the Pine Street home on May 10, according to arrest records.

Craig Budde told police he picked up Dunn on South Main Street and stopped at an automated teller machine to withdraw $60. Dunn told Budde to go to the Pine Street home, where he was invited inside.

While sitting on a couch, Budde claimed Kuren came downstairs and threatened him with a pipe, according to arrest records.

Budde brandished a .38-caliber handgun and followed Kuren and Dunn out a rear door. Once outside, arrest records say, Kuren approached Budde with the pipe when he fired the gun, hitting Kuren in the foot.

Police accused the pair of robbing John Vantaggi at the home after Vantaggi picked up Dunn on South Main Street on May 6. Vantaggi was inside the home when Kuren came downstairs and threatened him with a pipe, arrest records say.

Vantaggi alleged, according to arrest records, that Kuren demanded his bank account personal identification number that he used to withdraw $500. Kuren threatened Vantaggi not to contact police or Dunn would accuse him of raping her, according to arrest records.

Kuren and Dunn, 26, were charged in connection to the alleged incidents on May 6 and May 10.

Dunn waived her right to a preliminary hearing on Wednesday, sending three counts of robbery, two counts of criminal conspiracy to commit robbery, and one count each of theft, unlawful restraint, simple assault and terroristic threats to Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas.

Kuren’s preliminary hearing on the charges filed on Friday is tentatively scheduled on June 1.

Tweet	Follow @TLnews