Lower Providence man held for court in burglary spree
LOWER PROVIDENCE >> A Lower Providence man must answer to charges in Montgomery County Court that he burglarized multiple residences throughout the county between August and September 2020.
Junine Marion Garnett, 21, of the 100 block of Devon Drive, was ordered to stand trial after he waived his preliminary hearing before District Court Judge Cathleen Kelly Rebar on multiple counts of burglary, attempted burglary, criminal trespass, theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property and loitering and prowling at night in connection with the alleged break-ins.
Rebar set bail at $250,000 cash, which Garnett was unable to post and he was remanded to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility to await a formal arraignment on the charges in county court. After his formal arraignment hearing, a judge will schedule a trial date.
Assistant District Attorney Tanner Beck is prosecuting the case. Defense lawyer William DeNardo represents Garnett.
Garnett was located and arrested by U.S. Marshals last month in Harrisburg.
With the charges, authorities alleged Garnett participated in eight burglaries and eight attempted burglaries, many times while occupants of the residences were asleep in their homes, between Aug. 17 and Sept. 24, 2020.
The alleged incidents occurred in Collegeville and Trappe boroughs and East Norriton, Lower Providence and West Norriton townships.
Authorities alleged the burglaries were “opportunistic,” that Garnett searched for unlocked doors and windows through which to gain entry to the homes.
The investigation, according to a criminal complaint, began on Sept. 12, 2020, when Lower Providence police responded to Lloyd Lane for reports of four residential burglaries. Homeowners reported they were burglarized overnight and they discovered the break-ins in the morning.
During the investigation, detectives learned about similar incidents occurring in neighboring jurisdictions as early as Aug. 17, according to the criminal complaint filed by Lower Providence Detective Michael Nastasi. The investigation found that there was a common plan or scheme to these burglaries and attempted burglaries.