SHAMOKIN - A young local couple accused of stealing more than $12,500 in jewelry from the residence of a longtime city councilman and fire official were taken into custody Tuesday afternoon and charged with three felony offenses.
Carrie Jean Phillips, 22, of Coal Township, and her boyfriend, Colin Parsons, 20, of Paxinos, were arraigned by video by Magisterial District Judge Hugh Jones of Mount Carmel on charges of theft by unlawful taking, criminal conspiracy and receiving stolen property in connection with the theft of a 10-karat gold fireman's ring, a five-stone diamond ring, a 10-karat black onyx ring, a gold cross, two gold cuff links and a Switzerland gold coin.
The charges were filed by Patrolman Shane Mowery.
Police said the jewelry was stolen between April 6 and May 13 from the residence of R. Craig and Pamela Rhoades, 815 N. Shamokin St., while the victims were away on vacation. Mr. Rhoades is a longtime city councilman and public safety director, and formerly served as a fire chief in Shamokin.
Phillips and Parsons, who were taken into custody at about 2 p.m. Tuesday at a city residence, were each committed to Northumberland County Prison in Sunbury in lieu of $50,000 cash bail.
The defendants are accused of selling the jewelry at Ye Olde Coin Shoppe, 137 E. Independence St., whose owner, Richard Wright, contacted R. Craig Rhoades after recognizing the gold fireman's ring had the initials "RCR" engraved on the inside.
On May 14, R. Craig Rhoades contacted police to inform them that some of the jewelry that had been stolen from his home was sold to Wright at his coin shop by Phillips and Parsons.
Wright told police that when items are sold to him, he requires photo identification from the person selling the merchandise and places that information along with a driver's license number on the sales receipt.
Phillips' mother, Debbie Phillips, a longtime friend of the Rhoades who watches the house and tends to their dog when they are out of town, told police during a May 15 interview that her daughter and Parsons were at the Rhoades' residence with her on a couple occasions. Debbie Phillips said there were times she left her daughter alone at the home when she ran some errands.
Carrie Phillips denied stealing any of the jewelry during a May 24 interview with police.
Parsons admitted selling some items at Ye Olde Coin Shoppe on May 14, but claimed an unknown male gave him the jewelry to sell for cash in exchange for a cigarette. After selling the jewelry, Parsons claimed he gave the cash to the unknown male and received a couple of cigarettes.