Three Schuylkill County men and a Berks County woman have been jailed on felony charges after police say they were found in a condemned home in Pottsville on Thursday.
Wayne Gavenas, 45, of Pottsville; Randy Allen Robertson Jr., 37, of Girardville; Michael David Collins, 35, of Pottsville; and AlexisRae Taylor, 42, of Reading, were each charged with one count of third-degree felony criminal trespass.
According to police, officers were dispatched to 216 Line St. at a little before noon on Sept. 10 for a report of people unlawfully occupying the residence. Police said officers were informed prior to arrival that no individuals were allowed to be inside the property.
Officers entered the home through an unlocked rear door and located Robertson, Taylor, and Collins inside. Police say a “Condemned” sign was on a table near where the three were detained.
Collins told officers he was invited to the residence to hang out with Taylor and Robertson. Taylor and Robertson both told police that other people had given them permission to be at the property.
At a little after 2:30 p.m., police were dispatched back to the same property for an additional report of unauthorized occupants. Upon arrival, officers saw Gavenas leaving through the front door.
Gavenas told police that another individual asked him to come over to help with yard work, but no one was home when he arrived. He said the front door was open and entered the building to grab a tool to fix his bike tire.
The homeowner told police the property is vacant and that no one had permission to be there. Code Enforcement officials confirmed to police that the property had been condemned in August and has no running water.
All four suspects were arraigned before Magisterial District Judge James Reiley, who set bail at $10,000 each. They were remanded to Schuylkill County Prison. Preliminary hearings are scheduled for Oct. 12.
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