Photo by Keith Heffintrayer.
Two men from Birdsboro were arrested Sunday morning after police allegedly found them inside of a vacant home along the 1600 block of Clearview Avenue in Whitpain Township.
Police received a report about a suspicious vehicle at the home at 8:46 a.m. on May 26, and noted the homeowner does not live on the premises and the residence was vacant. Upon arrival, police knocked on the front door but did not receive a response from anyone inside.
According to the criminal complaint, police entered the home and observed a light on in the basement. The report states an officer went into the basement and found a man, later identified as 28-year-old Brandon George, hiding in a corner.
When asked if anyone else was in the house, George told police his friend, 32-year-old Zachary Epting, was somewhere on the first floor. Officers then located Epting hiding in the dining room, according to charging documents.
Both men were subsequently taken into custody and charged with one felony count of criminal trespassing.
Court records show Epting is free on $10,000 unsecured bail while awaiting his preliminary hearing on June 6. George is being held at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility in lieu of $2,500 cash bail, with his preliminary hearing scheduled for the same day.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using court records and the affidavit of probable cause.
