The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Local News

December 22, 2009

UPDATE: Dorm adviser accused of stealing Thiel students' stuff

By Monica Pryts

GREENVILLE — A resident adviser of a dorm building at Thiel College, Greenville, and three others are accused of stealing from his fellow students’ rooms while they were gone on Thanksgiving break.

Reginald K. Bennett, 22, Akron, was charged Dec. 1 by Thiel College police with burglary, receiving stolen property, false reports to law enforcement authorities and criminal conspiracy to commit burglary.

The charges were held to the Mercer County Court of Common Pleas at a preliminary hearing Monday with District Judge Brian Arthur, Greenville. Bennett was returned to Mercer County Jail after failing to post bond.

According to the police complaint:

Thiel police on Nov. 30 investigated burglaries reported at Stewart Hall, 2 W. Packard Ave., that happened between Nov. 24 and 29.

Seven dorm rooms were entered and televisions, video game systems, cash and other items worth at least $2,500 were stolen.

As a resident advisor, Bennett had a master key for all the Stewart Hall dorm rooms and told police it was lost or stolen.

Jazmine Watkins, 18, Bennett’s girlfriend, and Trayshon Mason, 23, and Alexandria Mason, 21, all of Decatur, Ill., were also interviewed and later charged in connection with the burglaries.

Ms. Watkins said she and Bennett conspired to enter the rooms since everyone was away for the holiday and he had a master key. She called her sister and her husband, the Masons, and invited them to come along and take what they wanted or just see what was in the rooms.

The four met Nov. 28 and the men stole the larger items while Ms. Watkins took only some Swedish fish candy, an accounting book and bottle of water.

Bennett confirmed her story and showed police receipts from Youngstown pawn shops where he sold some of the stolen items.

Mrs. Mason cried when the police told her what Ms. Watkins said. She also confirmed it but said she didn’t steal anything. Mason refused to talk to police.

Mason was charged with burglary, receiving stolen property and criminal conspiracy to commit burglary; Mrs. Mason with criminal conspiracy to commit burglary, receiving stolen property and false reports to law enforcement authorities; and Ms. Watkins with criminal conspiracy to commit burglary.

All of their charges were held to Common Pleas Court after preliminary hearings with Arthur. They were returned to Mercer County Jail after failing to post bond, Arthur’s office staff said.

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