Butler Men Face Charges After Attempted Pine Township Break-in

Four men charged in the Dec. 27 attempted break-in of a Wallace Road home in Pine Township were in court Wednesday for preliminary hearings.

William Allen Hohman, 29, of Butler, and Shawn Graham, 34, of Lyndora, waived their preliminary hearings before Magisterial District Judge William K. Wagner.

Hearings for Edward Eric Hohman, 30, of Russelton, and Keith Hohman, 22, of Butler, were postponed until Jan. 16.

Graham was released; the three Hohmans remain in the Allegheny County Jail. 

What happened?

The resident of the Wallace Road home called 911 around 2:30 p.m. to report that a man was trying to kick in his door, according to the criminal complaint.

The resident later identified William Hohman as that man, court documents state. Hohman is charged with criminal attempt and criminal conspiracy.

Keith Hohman said that his cousin, Edward Hohman, told him that he had hit the same house on the previous day (Dec. 26) and there were coins and copper left at the house, court documents state.

Keith and William decided to go to the house Dec. 27 for what would be "an easy copper job," the complaint states.

Keith told police that William and Edward went to the house and Edward stayed behind when William tried to kick the door open, according to the complaint. Both ran when the victim startled them, the complaint continues.

As police responded, a witness reported seeing two males running in the area—one toward Sheetz at the corner of Route 19 and Wallace Road; the other headed toward Pine Hollow, the criminal complaint states.

As Northern Regional Police Officer Michael Dorsch checked the Pine Hollow Road area, he was stopped by a witness who said she saw two men in an "older and beat-up-looking car" that sped out of the cul-de-sac, according to the complaint.

Officer Tim Spontak then spotted a suspect vehicle on Northgate Drive near Warrendale Bayne Road and officers from Northern Regional, McCandless and Franklin Park assisted when the vehicle was stopped, court documents state.

Driver Shawn Graham, William and Keith Hohman were detained, according to the criminal complaint.

Officer Scott Rick questioned the men separately at the NRPD station.

Graham admitted to driving Keith and William Hohman to Pine Hollow, knowing they were going to rob a house, the complaint states. Keith stayed in the car with Graham while William went to the house, according to the complaint.

Charges Filed

William Allen Hohman, 29, of Butler, is charged with criminal attempt and criminal conspiracy. He is in the Allegheny County Jail with bail set at $10,000.

Edward Eric Hohman, 30, of Russelton, is charged with a felony count of theft for taking silver coin-proof sets, cash, LEGO toys, state quarter sets valued at more than $2,000, the complaint states.

He also is charged with felony counts of criminal trespass, burglary, criminal attempt and criminal conspiracy. 

In addition, Edward Hohman faces charges in Tarentum Borough and Frazer Township for Dec. 20 and Dec. 21 incidents, respectively. He is charged with theft, receiving stolen property, conspiracy, criminal mischief, defiant trespassing and possessing instruments of crime.

He is in the Allegheny County Jail. Bail is set at $75,000 for the Pine case and $10,000 for the Tarentum case.

Keith Hohman, 22, of Butler, is charged with criminal conspiracy and prohibited acts—possession of drug paraphernalia. He remains in the Allegheny County Jail with bail set at $6,000.

Shawn Graham, 34, of Lyndora, faces two conspiracy charges. He was released on his own recognizance. 

Related story:

Three Men Charged With Burglarizing Pine Township Home 

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