The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Business

February 22, 2013

Jughandle owner wants to know from seller: ‘Where’s the beef?’

By Joe Pinchot Herald Staff Writer

PYMATUNING TOWNSHIP — A Lackawannock Township man has been accused of stiffing a Pymatuning Township bar owner to whom he had promised to sell meat.

John D. Leali, 49, of 361 Greenfield Road, also faces a couple of bad checks cases filed by Hermitage police.

Pymatuning police said Leali approached Edgar K. Steffey, owner of the Jughandle, 3623 N. Hermitage Road, on Dec. 16, and Steffey bought a case of chicken wings.

Leali returned Dec. 19 and offered to sell Steffey 10 cases of wings for $600, police said. He also asked Steffey for a $1,000 loan to buy hamburger, promising to pay back the loan with $350 extra, police said.

Steffey advanced the money, police said.

On Dec. 21, Leali tried to pay Steffey with a $1,300 check on an account belonging to someone else, police said. Steffey declined to accept the check because it was $50 short and he did not know the person who owned the account, police said.

Leali never paid Steffey the $1,350, police said.

Pymatuning police charged Leali with theft and receiving stolen property, and District Judge Brian Arthur, Greenville, held the charges for court at a preliminary hearing Feb. 13.

Hermitage police on Tuesday charged Leali with theft and bad checks for allegedly cashing a $950 check on a closed account Nov. 7 at Pennstar Federal Credit Union, 4139 E. State St. He faces a preliminary hearing at 9:15 a.m. Feb. 28 before District Judge Ronald E. Antos, Farrell.

In December, Hermitage police charged Leali with bad checks for issuing an $1,850 check Sept. 25 at the former Murcko’s, 3601 E. State St., and then stopping payment on it, police said. That case was held for Mercer County Common Pleas Court.Leali is free on bond.

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