Verdict on township supervisor's alleged crimes to be reached soon
11/08/2016 12:27PM ● By Richard Gaw
By Richard L. Gaw
Staff Writer
The future of London Grove Township resident Raymond W. Schoen is now in the hands of Chester County Court of Comon Pleas Judge Patrick Carmody.
Carmody is reviewing the case law that was discussed in a pre-trial motion on Oct. 12, between Schoen's defense attorney Mark Philip Much and Assistant District Attorney Bonnie Cox-Shaw, which allowed Schoen to avoid having to attend his criminal trial on Nov. 9 at the Courthouse.
Records provided by the Court's administrative office indicate that Schoen's trial will now be held on Nov. 14, when a decision by Carmody is expected to be reached. If the case is not decided on that date, a criminal trial will be rescheduled for Dec. 12.
Schoen was arrested Feb. 10 on a triple count of criminal trespassing, theft and receiving stolen property, for his involvement in the alleged stealing of firearms from a Birmingham Township home last December.
The charges filed against Schoen, 43, stem from an incident that was reported to Birmingham Township police on Dec. 16, 2015 by township resident John Fraser of Queens Ranger Lane. As detailed in the official police description, Fraser said that he was getting ready for bed on Dec. 15, when he noticed that a gun case beneath his bed -- one that held a Beretta Weatherby Mark V Deluxe SC682 and a shotgun -- was missing. Following a search of the house, Fraser opened his gun safe -- located in the closet of the master bedroom -- and found that a single bolt action from the rifle was also missing.
Fraser told police that prior to departing for vacation with his wife Mae that he had hired Schoen -- who identifies himelf as a tax accountant and a pet sitter through his website www.thepackleader.net -- to watch the family cat while the Frasers were away. Fraser told police that Schoen was given a key to the residence and its alarm code.
On Feb. 3, Fraser contacted the township police to inform them that he had spoken with a representative from Miller's Gun Shop, located at 97 West Jackson Avenue in New Castle, where he had originally purchased the now missing guns in 1998. The police report stated that Lawrence Hudson, the general manager of the shop, informed police that a white, middle-aged male had visited the store in late December, carrying a Beretta Weatherby Mark V Deluxe SC682 and a shotgun, in a beretta gun case.
Hudson later identified Schoen from a lineup of eight photographs, circling and identifying Schoen as the man who possessed the firearms. Hudson told the police that Schoen had entered the store with the intent to sell the guns to the store, at a value more than what they are valued at. Schoen then left the store carrying the guns.
On Feb. 10, accompanied by a search warrant, members of the township police entered Schoen's home in London Grove Township and, after a thorough search of the home, found both the Mark V Deluxe and the shotgun, and later identified both guns as stolen. Schoen was then placed into custody and transported to State Police Avondale. He was later released on his own recognizance.
London Grove Township is made up of a five-member Board of Supervisors, a number strategically selected to break potential ties during voting. Schoen ran unopposed in the November 2015 election, and began his tenure on the London Grove board on Jan. 1, 2016, for a six-year tenure that will end on Dec. 31, 2021.
Should Schoen be convicted and sentenced for his alleged crimes, the London Grove Board of Supervisors will have 30 days to appoint a new supervisor. If they are unable to appoint a successor after that time, the township's vacancy committee will have 30 days to name a viable replacement. If for any reason the committee is unable to name someone, the decision and subsequent appointment will be made by a judge.
To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, e-mail [email protected].
slug: schoen trial
Staff Writer
The future of London Grove Township resident Raymond W. Schoen is now in the hands of Chester County Court of Comon Pleas Judge Patrick Carmody.
Carmody is reviewing the case law that was discussed in a pre-trial motion on Oct. 12, between Schoen's defense attorney Mark Philip Much and Assistant District Attorney Bonnie Cox-Shaw, which allowed Schoen to avoid having to attend his criminal trial on Nov. 9 at the Courthouse.
Records provided by the Court's administrative office indicate that Schoen's trial will now be held on Nov. 14, when a decision by Carmody is expected to be reached. If the case is not decided on that date, a criminal trial will be rescheduled for Dec. 12.
Schoen was arrested Feb. 10 on a triple count of criminal trespassing, theft and receiving stolen property, for his involvement in the alleged stealing of firearms from a Birmingham Township home last December.
The charges filed against Schoen, 43, stem from an incident that was reported to Birmingham Township police on Dec. 16, 2015 by township resident John Fraser of Queens Ranger Lane. As detailed in the official police description, Fraser said that he was getting ready for bed on Dec. 15, when he noticed that a gun case beneath his bed -- one that held a Beretta Weatherby Mark V Deluxe SC682 and a shotgun -- was missing. Following a search of the house, Fraser opened his gun safe -- located in the closet of the master bedroom -- and found that a single bolt action from the rifle was also missing.
Fraser told police that prior to departing for vacation with his wife Mae that he had hired Schoen -- who identifies himelf as a tax accountant and a pet sitter through his website www.thepackleader.net -- to watch the family cat while the Frasers were away. Fraser told police that Schoen was given a key to the residence and its alarm code.
On Feb. 3, Fraser contacted the township police to inform them that he had spoken with a representative from Miller's Gun Shop, located at 97 West Jackson Avenue in New Castle, where he had originally purchased the now missing guns in 1998. The police report stated that Lawrence Hudson, the general manager of the shop, informed police that a white, middle-aged male had visited the store in late December, carrying a Beretta Weatherby Mark V Deluxe SC682 and a shotgun, in a beretta gun case.
Hudson later identified Schoen from a lineup of eight photographs, circling and identifying Schoen as the man who possessed the firearms. Hudson told the police that Schoen had entered the store with the intent to sell the guns to the store, at a value more than what they are valued at. Schoen then left the store carrying the guns.
On Feb. 10, accompanied by a search warrant, members of the township police entered Schoen's home in London Grove Township and, after a thorough search of the home, found both the Mark V Deluxe and the shotgun, and later identified both guns as stolen. Schoen was then placed into custody and transported to State Police Avondale. He was later released on his own recognizance.
London Grove Township is made up of a five-member Board of Supervisors, a number strategically selected to break potential ties during voting. Schoen ran unopposed in the November 2015 election, and began his tenure on the London Grove board on Jan. 1, 2016, for a six-year tenure that will end on Dec. 31, 2021.
Should Schoen be convicted and sentenced for his alleged crimes, the London Grove Board of Supervisors will have 30 days to appoint a new supervisor. If they are unable to appoint a successor after that time, the township's vacancy committee will have 30 days to name a viable replacement. If for any reason the committee is unable to name someone, the decision and subsequent appointment will be made by a judge.
To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, e-mail [email protected].
slug: schoen trial
