Unwanted attic dweller guilty of six charges

By Sheena Delazio sdelazio@timesleader.comStaff Writer

WILKES-BARRE – An Arkansas man who police said stole food and clothing from a family in Plains Township while secretly living in their attic pleaded guilty to several charges Tuesday.

Stanley W. Carter, 21, pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary, two counts of criminal trespassing and two counts of receiving stolen property before Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas Judge Hugh Mundy.

Carter was arrested on Dec. 26 after police said he had been staying in the attic for about a week and entering the home, owned by Stacey Ferrance, by going through a hatch in the ceiling when she and her family were out.

Police said once in the home, Carter stole food, clothing and Christmas presents, including a laptop computer he used to write his own “Stanley Christmas list.”

Carter will be sentenced on the charges on July 7 at 9:30 a.m. He was ordered to pay $1,640 in restitution costs and to have no contact with the Ferrance family.

Luzerne County Assistant District Attorney Jill Matthews prosecuted the case. Carter is represented by attorney Basil Russin.

Russin has previously said Carter had nowhere to stay at the time and was desperate.

“(Carter) is very sorry and upset it happened,” Russin said at Carter’s preliminary hearing in January. “He was very peaceful up there and kept to himself.”

Police said Carter was staying with a family in the other half of the double-block home on Wyoming Street, and was asked to leave around Dec. 19.

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

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

When police arrived at the home, they heard footsteps, and called in the Swoyersville police canine unit to search the attic. Ferrance said Carter surrendered after hearing the dog bark.

Carter is currently awaiting charges in Arkansas of passing bad checks and failure to pay fines from a previous legal incident.

Detective Jerry Foster, of Trumann, Ark., said Carter cannot be extradited on a misdemeanor outside of Arkansas and that his office will have to wait until Carter can be returned to Arkansas to be charged with the crimes.