Probation for admitted North Wales beer thief

John O’Hara, 34, pleaded guilty to three criminal counts in connection with January break-in

NORRISTOWN >> A 34-yearold Hatfield man accused of breaking into his cousin’s North Wales home earlier this year and stealing the man’s beer has been sentenced to three years of probation.

John Thomas O’Hara III, of the 1700 block of Koffel Road, pleaded guilty to third-degree misdemeanor counts of criminal mischief, defiant trespassing and disorderly conduct before Montgomery County Judge Gail Weilheimer, who sentenced O’Hara to a year of probation on each count, to be served consecutively, court records indicate.

O’Hara was also ordered to attend an alcohol treatment program, and is not allowed to drink alcohol while on probation, according to court documents. He was also assessed more than $2,600 in court costs and restitution, records show.

O’Hara had originally faced a felony burglary charge in the case, but that charge was withdrawn by prosecutors when he waived his preliminary hearing in district court in January.

North Wales police had said in charging documents that they responded to a home on the 200 block of South 10th Street on the afternoon of Jan. 8 for a reported burglary in progress.

The homeowner told dispatchers that he had come back to his residence after being away for a couple of hours, only to discover water on the kitchen floor, a footprint near the front door leading upstairs, and his dog behaving in a way that led him to believe there might be an intruder inside, an affidavit of probable cause indicates.

When the man went upstairs, he allegedly found O’Hara — “who he has had problems with in the past involving thefts” — sleeping in a bedroom and ordered him out of the house, the affidavit states.

Arriving officers took O’Hara into custody and noticed his breath reeked of alcohol and that he had glassy, bloodshot eyes, police said.

Further investigation revealed that O’Hara allegedly broke a window to gain access to the house, and that when he entered the residence, he stepped on the dog’s food and water bowls, which caused the water to go on the floor, according to the affidavit.

The homeowner reported that four 16-ounce cans of Guinness beer were missing from his refrigerator, police said.