Pizzabearing burglar is held for trial

WEST CHESTER >> The Delaware County man who allegedly burglarized a West Chester apartment and was later identified in part because of a distinctive slice of pizza he shared with a neighbor of the victims continues to be held in Chester County Prison.

Emmanuel Cesar Biche was held for trial in Common Pleas Court Friday after a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Marian Vito, who ruled that the prosecution had presented enough evidence to hold the 23-yearold Lansdowne man on charges of felony burglary, theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property, and criminal trespass.

Vito declined to take the suggestion, however, of Biche’s attorney, Assistant Public Defender William Shehwen III, that she reduce bail in the case so he could win his release. Biche has been held in prison since he was picked up on a bench warrant Dec. 17.

The judge reminded Shehwen that she had issued a bench warrant for Biche because he purposefully refused to attend his first scheduled preliminary hearing in early December. She said she had no assurance that if released, Biche would not again decided to abscond.

“He needs to be at a secure facility,” Vito said. “He doesn’t need to be roaming (the streets) and not coming to court.”

Biche seemed to reluctantly accept the fact that he would continue to be held awaiting trial, since he was unable to post the $2,500 bail.

He was initially charged in November after West Chester Police Detective Robert Kuehn was able to identify him because he