A Schuylkill County woman is accused of breaking into a pair of homes during the overnight hours earlier this week.
According to complaints filed by police in Pottsville, the separate incidents happened on the morning of April 14.
At about 1:55 a.m. Monday, police were dispatched to the 300 block of N. 7th St. for a report of a breaking-and-entering. The caller said an unknown woman was inside their home.
As police arrived on the scene, a man was standing in the street directing them to the area of the 700 block of W. Race St. Police say they made contact with the suspect and took her in custody.
The victim then told police that he was in his bedroom watching television earlier that night when he heard a noise coming from inside the house. When he went to check on the noise, he opened the door of his child’s bedroom and found a woman – later identified as Joan Blevins, 40, standing in the dark room.
After telling the woman to leave his home, the victim said he looked around and noticed that some of his belongings had been misplaced and that the latch had been pulled from a rear storm door.
It’s suspected that Blevins broke the latch and entered the home.
Police say Blevins was showing signs of paranoia and rambling, making incoherent statements during their interview with her. Blevins allegedly admitted to doing meth earlier. A small baggie with residue was found on Blevins during a search, police say.
That was apparently not Blevins’ first B-and-E that night. Police also filed a report later on Monday morning regarding a similar incident.
Shortly before 8 a.m., police were contacted by a homeowner in the 800 block of W. Race St. The caller said at about 3 a.m., while she was at work, she got mobile notifications of activity on her Ring camera.
Video captured by the surveillance camera allegedly showed Blevins entering her home through a rear door a few minutes prior to 1 a.m. This alarmed the homeowner because, at the time of the alleged break-in, her and a friend’s children – between the ages of 10 and 18 – were in the living room watching movies.
Police say video footage collected from this incident shows Blevins walking through the kitchen and into the dining room. Blevins then reportedly stares at the children before turning around. However, no footage showed Blevins leaving the home but she was not found inside.
Blevins was arraigned before District Magistrate Judge David Plachko on Monday morning. Between the two incidents, police have charged her with two counts of criminal trespass, a second-degree felony, two counts of loitering and prowling at night and a single count of possession of drug paraphernalia, all misdemeanors, and a summary offense for public drunkenness.
Cash bail was set at $25,000, which wasn’t posted and Blevins was remanded to Schuylkill County Prison. A preliminary hearing is currently scheduled before Judge James Reiley on May 5.
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