SOMERSET ― It seems the packages left on porches for customers was too much for John Wayne Wortman. He took several and kept getting caught: By video, by home owners and their neighbors, by carrying them while committing another theft, according to court documents.
The 39-year-old Somerset man also seemed interested in lottery-type machines. In 2023 he stood watch while another man entered Sheetz and used a key to open the lottery machine, where he took out items, police reported.
Eight months later, Wortman was caught on surveillance video carrying bolt cutters into Hometown Dry and Wash, along North Center Avenue, the tool to cut into a skills machine retrieving its cash. Police said he did so while on the run from law enforcement for escaping from Somerset County Jail staff while on a temporary furlough opportunity for drug and alcohol treatment.
The laundromat had been a safe haven in a way for Wortman who appeared at times to be homeless and needed to get warm, according to the owner Stephanie Mostoller.
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She remembers Wortman from a year prior. She described him as very polite, helpful and nice. Somewhere along the way he changed, Mostoller said.
When he broke into the skills machine on March 8, he was hiding from the police after his escape on March 7. He was caught by law enforcement on March 12.
His sentence in 15 cases
Wortman was sentenced to 49 months (4 years and 8 months) in state prison for 10 thefts and one conspiracy to commit theft, two counts of possession of paraphernalia and one each of possession of adulterated or misbranded drugs, escape and theft of mail. The incidents occurred from May 26, 2023, to March 12, 2024, just under a year.
President Judge Scott Bittner also ordered Wortman to pay $1,800 in fines and $4,433.63 in restitution. He is to serve a probationary period of 36 months when released from prison. He was credited for 213 days credit served.
Wortman pleaded guilty July 10. All the offenses are misdemeanors, except for the escape charge, which is a felony, and the theft of mail, a summary. The crimes all occurred in Somerset and nearby areas.
The sentencing by cases:
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On May 26, 2023, video security showed Wrotman remove a package from the porch at 203 E. Fairview St. The package contained brake pads worth $70. He was sentenced for theft.
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On the same day, video showed Wortman taking a package from 625 Lohr Ave. The package contained $36 worth of Tupperware containers. He was sentenced for theft.
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The same day he also took a package off the porch at 397 Fairview St. that contained $25 worth of cat litter and water filters. He was sentenced for theft.
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On July 26, 2023, a witness saw him taking a package from 364 Catherine St. He was confronted by the witness, a neighbor, and the package was found on his person. It contained paper towels and a hair conditioner worth $17.77. He was sentenced for theft.
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On Aug. 8, 2023, a victim provided photos of a package that had been delivered to his address at 612 S. Edgewood St. The photos matched the package the defendant was carrying in another case. The package contained Stevie Nicks’ CDs valued at $299.98. He was sentenced for theft.
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On the same day, a video showed Wortman taking a package from 612 S. Edgewood Ave. The package contained cleaning supplies and toilet paper valued at $35. He was sentenced for theft.
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About two weeks later, on Aug. 26, a Sheetz video showed Wortman and another man at the lottery machine inside the store. They appeared to be examining the machine. The video showed them returning and the other man opened the machine with a key and took items out while Wortman stood watch. He was sentenced to conspiracy to commit theft.
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On Sept. 14, 2023, the Sheetz video filmed Wortman placing a bag behind the store. The bag contained syringes, a lighter, glass container with drug residue. He was sentenced for possession of drug paraphernalia.
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On Nov. 29, detectives were at Wingate Hotel in Somerset issuing a warrant. It was not a warrant for Wortman, but he was found there in a room and was not registered. He possessed on his person a glass smoking device, two syringes and a stamp bag. He was sentenced for possession of drug paraphernalia.
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This year, on Jan. 24, a video shows Wortman taking a package at 533 S. Ankeny Ave., which contained an electric blanket valued at $24.48. He was sentenced for theft.
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On Feb. 8, a video shows him taking two packages from 425 Kimberly. The victim saw him take them and followed him. Wortman returned the packages to the victim. The packages contained clothing worth $63.97. He was sentenced for theft and theft of mail.
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On Feb. 19, a surveillance camera photo showed Wortman at 640 S. Ankeny Ave. taking a package. The package contained an action figure valued at $36. He was sentenced for theft.
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On March 7, Wortman was granted a temporary furlough from the Somerset County Jail, where he was awaiting trial instead of a bond, for the specific purpose of drug and alcohol treatment at UPMC-Westwood Behavioral Health, formerly Twin Lakes. He was to return to the jail immediately after receiving treatment. The vehicle stopped and he stepped out of the car and fled on foot in the 800 block of Center Avenue, according to police. He was charged with escape and was not captured for several days. He was sentenced for escape.
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The next day he entered and walked through the Hometown Dry and Wash when it opened. A few minutes later he came back and entered with a red bolt cutter, which he used to cut two locks off of the skills’ machine. He struck the machine with some yellow tool to open the money box and left. Mostoller reported there was $1,071 cash missing and $700 in damage to the machine. He was sentenced for theft.
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On March 12, he was picked up on a warrant for escape. On that date, he possessed Clonidine, a prescription drug, however, it was mispackaged and mislabeled. He was charged with possession of an adulterated or misbranded controlled substance.
This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Somerset man sentenced in a dozen thefts occuring over 11 month period
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