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July 11, 2008

Men charged in burglaries

Two Ellwood City men charged with burglarizing houses in Lawrence and Beaver counties are lodged in the Lawrence County jail.

Brian James Flesher, 22, is charged with three counts of residential burglaries. Police said Flesher allegedly took jewelry from Wayne Township houses in Lawrence County.

State police said a fourth charge is pending, stemming from a burglary in Franklin Township, Beaver County. Those charges will be filed later. His bond was set at $50,000.

William Francis Wimer, 25, is charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit burglary for allegedly assisting Flesher in commission of the Wayne Township burglaries. Wimer also was charged with three counts of conspiracy to receive stolen property following his alleged involvement in the burglaries.

Police said an additional charge is pending, stemming from a Franklin Township burglary. His bond was set at $10,000.

Both were arraigned before District Judge Jerry Cartwright.

According to police, on June 16, Wayne Township homeowners began reporting burglaries where jewelry was the apparent main target.

Through their investigation, police said, Flesher and Wimer were identified as the likely participants in the break-ins. Police notified local jewelers and asked to be contacted if either man attempted to sell jewelry.

On July 1, a local jeweler contacted the state police, stating the suspects had attempted to sell jewelry but had departed before police were notified.

At 3 p.m. that day, police arrived at a Neshannock Township jewelry store to find Flesher and Wimer in possession of jewelry and attempting to sell it at the store.

Police said they learned that the items offered for sale allegedly had been taken earlier that day during a residential burglary in Franklin Township, Beaver County.

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