05/21/08 — “I want help,” a sobbing, shivering Colleen Rose Greene told Meadville Area Magisterial District Judge William Chisholm during her Tuesday-night arraignment on charges stemming from an alleged break-in at the Masonic Building. “I’m sorry.”
The 22-year-old Ohio native, who gave her last address as 7267 Muriel Lane in South Shenango Township’s Westford community and explained that she has recently been staying with her boyfriend’s mother on Boileau Place in Meadville, is facing maximum fines totaling $320,600 and prison sentences totaling more than 161 years in the wake of an alleged overnight break-in at the Masonic Building at 312 Chestnut St.
Building owner Wesley Rowden described the break-in as resulting in “significant damage.”
Summoned to the scene by a caller reporting that an office had been broken into during the night, Meadville Police Department officers arrived at the Masonic Building at 7:16 a.m. Tuesday.
When it was determined a total of six offices had been broken into, Pennsylvania State Police Forensic Unit was called to the scene to assist with processing the crime scene.
Throughout the day, lead investigator Detective Sgt. Eric Young and the rest of the police department developed leads; at 2:15 p.m., Greene was taken into custody and arrested.
Following her arraignment Tuesday evening on three counts of burglary, eight counts of criminal trespass, four counts of theft by unlawful taking, three counts of criminal mischief and one count of resisting arrest, Greene was committed to the Crawford County jail, Saegertown, in lieu of $50,000 bond.
In the criminal complaint, police allege that Greene entered the first-floor office of state Sen. Bob Robbins through an unlocked window; entered the office of Helpmates Inc. through a boarded-up doorway, where she took possession of a laptop computer; forced a locked door open to enter the office of Full Spectrum School of Healing and Self Transformation, where she took two checks totaling more than $600; entered the office of Crawford County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) through a hole in the wall she created, and took possession of more than $100 cash; entered the Barbara J. Mountjoy law office; and entered the Crawford County LEAP office by forcing a hole through the wall and grabbing the hand bar of the door to gain access and removed more than $200 cash. Police also allege Greene intentionally damaged property in the building in excess of $2,000 while committing several crimes within the building.
Police also allege that later on Tuesday, she entered a residence at 225 1/2 Boileau Place without being authorized to do so; damaged the rear door of 273 Randolph St. in an attempt to enter the residence while fleeing from police; engaged in combative behavior with Detective Sgt. Craig Gump, who suffered scrapes to his hands and knees while he was attempting to place her under arrest; and damaged Gump’s pants, shoes and cell phone during the scuffle.
Asked if she had any problems with drugs and alcohol, Greene told Chisholm that she “does pills, smokes pot and drinks until she blacks out.”
After reading the charges, Chisholm asked Greene why she did it. “I was high,” she responded. It wasn’t to get money to buy drugs or alcohol, she assured him, explaining that she had $200 cash in her possession at the time. “I don’t know why I do it.”
Asked specifically about the reason behind the attack on the detective, she explained that she took the drug Ecstasy at around 11 a.m., following the alleged break-in.
Greene also told the judge this isn’t her first scrape with the law. In fact, she’s awaiting sentencing on June 6 in Crawford County Court of Common Pleas on charges arising from an early February break-in in Linesville.
Her preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled for May 30.
Local News
Woman faces fines, jail time for masonic building burglary
- Local News
-
-
Budget, aesthetics a balancing act at Armory
The next time there’s a moment or two to spare for quiet contemplation, pause in the vicinity of the City of Meadville’s picturesque Diamond Park. Let your eyes rest on Parkside Commons, the meticulously refurbished structure at the northeast end of the park that was once known as “the old junior high.” Make a point of focusing on the windows.
-
Former rockers Drywater enjoying glow from album's rebirth
It’s funny how perceptions can differ from one person to the next; how what sparkles in one set of eyes can appear tarnished in another.
-
Edinboro site eyed for retirement homes
About two years after halting expansion plans into the Conneaut Lake area, Meadville-based Wesbury United Methodist Retirement Community now is looking to expand north into Erie County, possibly sometime in 2013.
-
Langley voted in as Meadville City Council's new member
“Pleased” is the word that best describes Bob Langley’s response to the news that he had been selected to fill Meadville City Council’s vacant seat.
-
French Creek conservation group to benefit from environmentalist's talk
When one of the world’s best known environmentalists, the author and activist Bill McKibben, speaks next week at Allegheny College, his audience will likely be putting some money where its heart is — right into French Creek.
-
Vernon Police chief suspects 'human interaction' in Sunday fire
An investigation is continuing into a weekend fire that destroyed a historic structure in Vernon Township, and Vernon police are urging anyone with information to give them a call.
-
Walker hired to fill Meadville's newest administrative position
The City of Meadville’s soon-to-be-newest administrator is a familiar name in the area and familiar with the city.
-
Edinboro protest planned against proposed state budget cuts
If you’re a student or faculty member at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, don’t be surprised if Trevor Belz, a sophomore from Saegertown, shares some strong opinions with you in the next few days — and urges your attendance at a campuswide protest planned for Tuesday.
-
Local legislators: Corbett budget off to a good start
Elected officials representing Crawford County in Pennsylvania’s Senate and House of Representatives are gearing up for what looks like a lengthy budget process.
-
Crawford Central's Heller says new budget plan hobbles school districts
Area educators haven’t had a lot of time to mull over the implications of the budget proposal presented Tuesday to a joint meeting of Pennsylvania’s Senate and House of Representatives by Republican Gov. Tom Corbett.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Budget, aesthetics a balancing act at Armory
Pop Music Superstar Whitney Houston Dies at 48
Police: Houston Found Dead in Her Hotel Room
Paul Suffers Narrow Loss to Romney in Maine
Recording Superstar Whitney Houston Dead at 48
Maine GOP Chairman Says Romney Wins Caucuses
Palin Brings Anti-Washington Message to CPAC
Obama Scraps Birth Control Mandate
US Airmen's Killer Sentenced to Life in Germany
Navy Names Ship for Gabrielle Giffords
Raw Video: Deadly Blasts in Syria
Romney Slams President Obama at CPAC
Gingrich: Pres. Obama 'waging War on Religion'
5 Killed in Wrong-way Crash on I-10 in La.
Uzbek Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Kill Obama
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal
$25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses
