Austin Bell's booze- and Xanax-fueled Monday night ended in felony burglary charges, authorities said.
Jermyn police said Mr. Bell, 22, 119 Franklin St., Jermyn, wanted to beat and rob Rio Standefer, an old friend he had a falling out with around Christmas, after drinking two mixed drinks, a Four Loko and snorting two Xanax pills Monday night.
However, when he broke into 746 Jefferson Ave. by ramming the side door, he was met by the homeowner about 4:30 a.m. Tuesday.
Mr. Bell's friend, Alejandro Soto, was worried about Mr. Bell and tried to take him home at roughly 4 a.m. after drinking, but Mr. Bell began walking to Jillian Shimo's house, where Mr. Standefer was staying, police said. When Mr. Soto saw Mr. Bell try to ram down the side door, he decided it was time for him to leave as Mr. Bell gets very angry when he drinks and he did not want to get into a fight with him.
Inside the home, Mr. Bell encountered Ms. Shimo's mother, Laurie Shimo, police said. Mr. Bell told her he was there to drink with her children, but she told him that everyone was asleep and briefly left him alone in the kitchen. He was gone by the time she returned.
Police found flowers removed from the right front window box and a side door had a dead bolt removed from brute force. There was other evidence of attempted forced entry at several other areas of the house.
Mr. Bell told police later in the day that he had gone over to get Mr. Standefer to pick up girls, but he thought he was with multiple people. He remembers banging on the door and trying to shimmy it open but doesn't remember speaking to Ms. Shimo.
Mr. Bell is charged with burglary, criminal trespass, loitering and prowling at night and criminal mischief. Bail and preliminary hearing information was not available Wednesday night.
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