Kittanning man admits to stealing from vehicles, house
A 20-year-old Kittanning man reduced his likelihood of serving a lengthy jail sentence in two criminal cases by pleading guilty Thursday and Friday to charges stemming from a string of thefts in Armstrong County earlier this year.
Raine Mechling of North Jefferson Street admitted Thursday that he stole items from at least one home, a garage and two cars in North and South Buffalo townships and Kittanning borough.
According to court documents, the stolen items included an iPad, cellphone charger, purse, camera and credit cards. He used one of the credit cards to purchase additional items, forging the owner's name on a receipt.
Mechling, represented by attorney Charles Pascal, pleaded guilty to two felony charges of criminal trespass and one felony count of forgery in addition to two counts of theft from a vehicle and one count of theft — all misdemeanors.
Judge Kenneth Valasek told Mechling he faced a total maximum jail sentence of 32 years.
However, as part of the plea agreement, Assistant District Attorney George Kepple said additional charges connected with the case would be dropped.
“The district attorney is recommending nine months to 24 months in jail and is not opposing house arrest,” Valasek said.
On Friday, Mechling returned to Valasek's courtroom without an attorney to plead guilty to two theft charges stemming from a March incident in which he stole a small amount of cash from a truck.
Mechling told the judge he was not represented by a lawyer in that case because he failed to fill out paperwork requesting a public defender. In exchange for his plea, additional charges were dropped. He is facing an additional nine months to two years in that case.
He will be sentenced in both cases on Dec. 15.
Andrew Pierson, a 25-year-old co-defendant from Bethel Park who was arrested along with Mechling in connection with thefts in Kittanning and North Buffalo, is scheduled for a court hearing in November.
Brigid Beatty is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 724-543-1303 or bbeatty@tribweb.com.
