Man charged in theft of $17,000 from vehicle; 2nd suspect has died

From staff reports

A Seneca man is facing charges for allegedly taking part in the theft of $17,000 in cash last year from an impounded vehicle at a Seneca towing business.

Franklin state police said Barry Lewis Stover Jr., 39, and another man stopped their vehicle in front of Venango Towing and Recovery on Route 257 on the morning of Feb. 12, 2017.  Stover remained inside their vehicle, but the other man, who has since passed away from an unrelated incident, left the vehicle and climbed the fence at Venango Towing, police said.

The man who has since died broke into an impounded vehicle and took the $17,000 that belonged to a 52-year-old man, police said.  The money was later given to Stover by the man who has since died, police said.

Stover was arraigned Thursday before district judge Patrick Lowrey on felony counts of theft by unlawful taking of movable property and receiving stolen property and a misdemeanor count of theft from a motor vehicle.

He was released on $20,000 unsecured bail, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled Wednesday in Venango County Central Court.