Hurley

A New York man is behind bars for his alleged involvement in two vehicle thefts from Altoona Sheetz parking lots.

Silver Creek resident James M. Hurley Jr., 31, was arraigned Thursday by Magisterial District Judge Benjamin F. Jones on three felony counts of robbery, two felony counts each of theft and conspiracy to commit theft, single felony counts of robbery of a motor vehicle, aggravated assault, conspiracy to commit robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery of a motor vehicle, as well as a single misdemeanor count of theft.

Hurley was remanded to the Blair County Prison in lieu of $150,000 bail. His preliminary hearing is set for May 21 before Magisterial District Judge Daniel C. DeAntonio.

Altoona police were dispatched to the 400 E. Plank Road Sheetz about 10:58 p.m. April 10 for a report of a stolen vehicle. The victim told officers he left his white Ford Focus running with the keys in the ignition as he entered Sheetz about 10:37 p.m. When he left the store a short time later, his vehicle was gone, according to the affidavit of probable cause.

Sheetz surveillance footage showed a black Mitsubishi Lancer entering the parking lot about 10:36 p.m. The driver, later identified as Hurley, left the vehicle while Jordan Patrick Charles, 33, of Deposit, New York, exited the front passenger seat. The pair watched the victim leave his Ford and enter Sheetz. Hurley then entered the driver’s seat of the Ford while Charles entered the passenger seat. The Ford is then seen leaving the parking lot, the police report states.

Officers found the Mitsubishi Lancer running with keys in the ignition. When they ran its license plate, they found it had been reported stolen less than an hour prior by state police at Indiana, the report states.

Altoona police were told that a 2010 Toyota Yaris was stolen from the Chestnut Avenue Sheetz about 11:01 p.m. The third victim said he left his vehicle running with keys in the ignition and entered the store. When he left a few minutes later, he saw the vehicle reversing with two individuals in the front seats, court documents state.

The third victim said he approached the open driver’s side window to stop Hurley, but Hurley shifted the vehicle into drive and accelerated at a high rate of speed. He told officers that Hurley turned the vehicle’s wheels toward him and, as he was still holding the window, he was dragged several feet before being sent spiraling to the pavement, the report states.

The third victim reported about $1,000 worth of tools, the vehicle’s previous license plate and the keys to his residence were in the Toyota’s backseat. When officers reviewed surveillance camera still-shot images, they were able to confirm that Hurley and Charles were involved in both Sheetz incidents, according to the affidavit.

On April 15, officers were told the Toyota Yaris was found with Hurley and his girlfriend by the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office in New York. The license plate and tools were missing from the vehicle, the report states.

A criminal complaint was filed against Charles by the office of Magisterial District Judge Daniel C. DeAntonio on April 26. Charles faces the same charges as Hurley, but his case remains inactive as his whereabouts are currently unknown, according to the affidavit.