Drug charges added to ID theft

By PATRICK BUCHNOWSKI
The Tribune-Democrat

September 03, 2009 10:54 pm

A Johnstown man accused of stealing nearly $2,700 from a woman’s bank account was digging up a marijuana plant in his yard when police arrived to arrest him.

Jon Craig Beltz Jr., 23, made 32 withdrawals from the woman’s account at CNB?Bank’s Northern Cambria branch from April to July, city police said.

Beltz, 23, of the 700 block of Cooper Avenue, also sold $12,323 worth of the woman’s jewelry and computer equipment, police said.

When officers arrived at his residence Wednesday, “Beltz was seen holding a large marijuana plant that appeared to have been cultivated in the backyard,” police said in an affidavit of probable cause. Next to the plant was a large, fresh hole and a shovel.

“He was growing marijuana in the backyard,” city Detective Joseph Eckenrod said.

Beltz was charged with identify theft, receiving stolen property and access device fraud. He also was charged with manufacturing a controlled substance and marijuana possession.

Beltz was arraigned by District Judge John Barron of Upper Yoder Township, the on-call magistrate, and sent to the Cambria County Prison after failing to post $50,000 bond.