A homeless man in Schuylkill County is facing trespassing charges after he allegedly tried breaking into a home with an unidentified woman last week.
Police in Shenandoah say they were notified of a man and woman prowling around a home at 24 E. Penn St. in the borough shortly after 11 p.m. on Oct. 16.
When the duo were spotted by a neighbor entering the yard of that property, the man – identified as James Barbazote, 49 – signaled to the woman to leave the yard.
Police searched the area surrounding the property where the duo were allegedly trying to enter but that canvass came up empty.
The following day, police obtained security camera footage from Shenandoah Community Ambulance Assoc. That footage reportedly shows Barbazote and a woman approaching the front door of the residence on E. Penn St.
Barbazote allegedly exited the yard and opened the front screen door and tried to enter the front door. He then fled the area after neighbors heard a ruckus and began to investigate, police say.
Police add that they were able to identify Barbazote from the security footage from their numerous encounters with him. They believe Barbazote is homeless because his previous residence has been demolished.
Barbazote has been charged with felony criminal trespass along with misdemeanor counts of defiant trespass and prowling at night. He was arraigned on Oct. 17 before Magisterial District Judge Anthony Kilker and released on $15,000 unsecured bail.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Oct. 30.
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