A Schuylkill County man charged with felony burglary and trespass appeared in District Court Monday morning for a preliminary hearing.
After Tyler Porter, 35, originally said he would proceed without an attorney (pro se), when he heard the charges he was facing, he quickly changed his mind.
First, he scoffed as Assistant District Attorney Andrew Bench began reading them off, and then he turned to Bench and the alleged victims of the case and said, “These are high as (bleep), yo.”
Porter then began muttering something to the victims but was quickly interrupted by Bench and told he couldn’t speak to them.
Porter allegedly broke into a home on N. 2nd St. in Pottsville earlier this month. Police say they found evidence that he broke in to the home by kicking in the door and damaging the jamb.
Once inside, he allegedly stole a set of car keys.
Police say they apprehended Porter soon after he fled the scene. He’s been in Schuylkill County Prison since July 14 and being held on $50,000 cash bail.
When he was originally questioned about his not having an attorney by Magisterial District Judge James Reiley, Porter asked why the Public Defenders Office wasn’t notified.
Reiley told Porter he had to apply for a Public Defender for each case in which he’s a Defendant.
Porter is also facing an aggravated assault charge related to an alleged incident back in February, which also occurred in the 600 block of N. 2nd St. During that incident, a deputy with the Schuylkill County Sheriff’s Office was injured while trying to serve a Protection From Abuse order on Porter and evict him from the property.
Those charges were waived to Schuylkill County Court of common Pleas.
On Monday, Porter said he wanted to request a deed to the property he allegedly burglarized.
Reiley told him to take that issue up with his Public Defender after he is assigned one, assuming he applies.
Porter was granted a continuance on Monday’s scheduled hearing and sent back to Schuylkill County Prison.
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