Haven woman
charged for arson
KUTZTOWN — Kutztown police have filed charges of arson and other offenses against a Schuylkill Haven woman in connection with a Dec. 29 incident at the Berks County business where she worked.
Police said Chandra M. Krusnoski, 38, of East Penn Street was charged with felony charges of four counts of arson and one count each of causing or risking a catastrophe, theft, receiving stolen property and criminal mischief, as well as misdemeanor charges of recklessly endangering another person and conspiracy.
Police said Kutztown firefighters were called to a fire at 261 W. Main St. about 8:50 a.m. that housed Althea’s Imagnarium while the business was closed and no one was inside.
The fire was quickly extinguished but not before it caused an estimated $100,000 damage to the building and its contents, police said.
A subsequent investigation by the Kutztown fire marshal and a state police fire marshal determined the fire was intentionally set and surveillance cameras inside showed two people inside the building where the fire started.
Shortly after smoke began to fill the building, police said, cameras showed the two people leaving the store.
Police said it was determined that one of those inside was store employee Krusnoski and that the woman later in the day sent a text message to the owner of the store saying she “only wanted the box to smolder.”
City man charged
for sexual assault
A Pottsville man was arrested by Pottsville police and charged with having sex with a 12-year-old girl.
Police said a the girl reported Tuesday that she had engaged in sexual activity with Brandon Scott Shirey, 25.
The girl told officers she met Shirey on Facebook where the two began communicating through instant messages and that Shirey requested they meet in person about Jan. 19 after which the sexual activity began.
Police said the juvenile told Detective Joseph Welsh that she had been with Shirey on three separate occasions when the inappropriate activity took place, two of which occurred in Pottsville.
The girl also said that Shirey sent her nude photographs of himself and requested she send him inappropriate pictures of her which she did over instant messaging, police said.
On Tuesday, police said, Welsh interviewed Shirey about the allegations and that he admitted to having sexual contact with the minor victim at his residence at 565 E. Arch St.
The man also admitted to sending the victim nude photos of himself and requesting inappropriate photos of the victim, police said.
Police said a criminal complaint was prepared charging Shirey with statutory sexual assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, aggravated indecent assault, indecent assault and corruption of minors.
Shirey was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge David Rossi, Tremont, and committed him to Schuylkill County Prison in lieu of $75,000 straight cash bail.
Police said they are still actively investigating this incident and Shirey is facing additional charges in reference to sending pornographic images to the minor.
Officers were able to seize both the victim and Shirey’s cell phone which allegedly contain the inappropriate images and are in the process of collecting evidence from the devices, police said.
Police investigate
Lykens burglaries
LYKENS — State police at Lykens are investigating burglaries that occurred on two different days in his Dauphin County community.
Police said that between 1 and 4 a.m. Dec. 17 someone entered the home of Amber Nicole Dotson at 329 S. Second St. through an unlocked rear door.
Once inside, police said, the person or persons turned all of Dotson’s cowboy memorabilia china around inside a china cabinet and pushed over a Christmas tree, causing ornaments on one side to be destroyed.
Then, about 3 a.m. Dec. 29, police reported burglaries at home at 337 and 331 S. Second St., owned by Joseph Wayne Hoffman Jr. and Brenda Lee Spencer.
Police said someone entered the 337 S. Second St. property through an unlocked rear door and then fled east to the home at 331 S. Second St. and tried to break in through a side window.
A resident in the 331 S. Second St. home was downstairs at the time and saw the person, causing them to flee the area.
Anyone with information on either incident is asked to call state police at Lykens at 717-362-8700.
Police to probe
drug distribution
LYKENS — An investigation is underway in Dauphin County in regard to possession, sale, and distribution of a controlled substance sometime between 2014 and 2015, state police in Lykens reported Tuesday. Additional information will follow.