A Schuylkill County man faces a felony theft charge after police say he accepted more than $7,600 to repair storm damage to a South Manheim Township garage and then ghosted the homeowner without doing the work.
Joseph Reading, 43, of Frackville, was charged by State Police with one third-degree felony count of theft by deception.
According to police, a South Manheim Township resident hired Reading, operating as Reading Mechanical, in March 2024 to fix a garage roof damaged in a storm. Investigators say Reading visited the property on March 14, 2024, to assess the damage and gave an estimate of $7,606.05, telling the homeowner he would return in June 2024 to start repairs.
The homeowner mailed a check for $7,606.05 via certified mail, which police say was cashed in April 2024. However, police reported Reading had not been back to the property since that month.
When the resident called Reading in June 2024 after hearing no updates, Reading reportedly claimed he was busy and pushed the start date to July 2024. Throughout July 2024, Reading ignored repeated phone calls and failed to return messages from the homeowner, according to police.
Police also attempted to contact Reading by phone on July 13, 2025, and Jan. 15, 2026, to conduct an interview, but Reading failed to return the investigating officer’s calls both times.
Reading was arraigned on Tuesday before Magisterial District Judge Casimir Kosciolek, who set bail at $1,000 unsecured.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Aug. 25 before Kosciolek.
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