Hempfield man accused of buying $38,200 worth of hunting gear with stolen checks
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A Hempfield man is accused of using stolen checks to buy about $38,200 worth of hunting equipment, clothing, tires, antiques and other items over a three-year period.
The purchases were made in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia, according to the criminal complaint filed against him.
William D. Barnhart, 55, of Sportsman Road, described as an avid hunter in the criminal complaint, is accused of using checks he allegedly stole from residences in Hempfield, New Stanton and South Huntingdon. He used them to buy cross bows, hunting equipment, ammunition, rifle scopes, an electric bike, a grill and chainsaw, said Detective William Brown, who filed the charges Wednesday along with state police Trooper Evan Terek.
“It was all kind of expensive stuff,” Brown said.
Barnhart allegedly purchased the items with the stolen checks in Allegheny, Butler, Cambria, Indiana, Westmoreland and five other counties, in addition to Ohio and West Virginia. The accounts had been closed when Barnhart allegedly used the checks from May 2020 to February 2023. He is accused of forging the names of the owners of the accounts and writing a false Pennsylvania license number on the checks as a way of providing an identification, according to the affidavit.
Several of the checks were written to vendors at outdoors shows in Westmoreland and Cambria counties, as well as Harrisburg, Ohio and West Virginia.
Authorities were first tipped off to the use of stolen checks by retired Penn Township Police Chief Ed Schmuck, who was paid for antique hunting licenses and ammunition at his Adamsburg store in May 2022, with a worthless $700 check, according to the affidavit. Authorities learned the owner of the checks was a victim of a burglary in October 2021, but did not know the checks were missing, Brown said.
Police identified Barnhart when he allegedly was seen on a video in October 2022, issuing a worthless check at an Ebensburg Fishing & Huntingdon. A surveillance camera had photographer the company vehicle he had driven to Ebensburg, according to the affidavit.
County detectives and state police recovered most of the items during a search of Barnhart’s residence in May 2023, according to the affidavit. Barnhart helped with the search for other items stolen from businesses.
As a result of the thefts, police said in the affidavit that three innocent persons were charged with crimes.
Barnhart was charged with 39 counts of forgery and identity theft, four counts of theft, one count each of receiving stolen property and dealing in the proceeds of unlawful activity. All of the charges are felonies, according to court documents.
Barnhart surrendered and was arraigned Wednesday morning before East Huntingdon District Judge Charles Moore, Brown said. Barnhart was released on his own recognizance, pending a preliminary hearing on Feb. 14, according to court documents.