Police have charged four homeless people and a Tamaqua woman with trespassing in a condemned home in Schuylkill County.
On Oct. 28, Saint Clair Police say they were on patrol in Schoentown, East Norwegian Township. While driving past a home on Seventh St., police say they noticed a light on inside and several people seated around a table.
The home, police say, is condemned and stickers indicating such were stuck to the property in multiple locations.
Police say they made contact with Kelly Wensel, 54, who was inside the home. Wensel was informed that no one was to be in this home because it had been condemned.
Wensel, police say, identified two other occupants inside at the time: William Haslam, 53, and Cathyann Balliet, 62, of Tamaqua. Both Wensel and Haslam asked and were given time to get some belongings before they vacated the property.
While waiting, police say a fourth person exited the property, Pamela Mack, 49.
Wensel was again asked if anyone else was inside the property as she and the others left. She reportedly said it was empty and no one else was inside.
Before securing the building, police say they conducted a safety check inside. During that sweep of the property, a fifth person was found: Robert Marks, 60. Marks was located sitting in a bedroom closet.
Police say they had an active arrest warrant on Marx and he was taken into custody and remanded to Schuylkill County Prison.
A final check was then conducted to ensure the property was completely vacated.
All five people inside have been charged with criminal trespass, a third-degree misdemeanor.
Police listed everyone but Balliet as homeless on their charging documents.
Court records show $500 cash bail was posted by Wensel to free Marx – who had an outstanding warrant on a DUI charge from April – on Nov. 3.
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