Ephrata man sentenced for role in thefts
Vandals broke into a storage unit at the Ephrata Four Square Church last year and stole donations of toiletries, blankets and jackets meant for the homeless. Ben Stetner, of Ephrata, was recently sentenced to five days for buying and trying to hide the stolen property.
EPHRATA - An Ephrata man was recently sentenced to five days in jail for his role in a string of storage locker break ins.
Stolen items include donations from Four Square Church and lawn maintenance equipment from Ephrata Manor Apartments.
Benjamin Stetner, 39, was convicted of trafficking in stolen property after he bought stolen items and tried to hide others in his storage locker. He was also sentenced to two years probation and 120 days suspended sentence and forced to pay $2,169 in fees and fines including $719 in restitution to the apartment complex.
While investigating a string of thefts from storage units, police came across security camera footage that showed a bicycle toting a home-built trailer, carrying away stolen items.
Police recognized the bike and while talking to the owner, he confessed to stealing the items and said he sold the lawn equipment to Stetner.
That man was living in a storage unit and when police talked to the owner, she said she recognized Stetner and his vehicle as being involved in hiding the stolen items.
Cheryle Brewer works at Four Square Church and said that she thinks Stetner got off light. She said the church was broken into at least one other time about two years ago. Even more troubling, Brewer said, Stetner had received help from the church.
She said the items stolen from the church were jackets, blankets and toiletry items they provide to homeless or needy people in the area. Community members quickly rallied after news of thefts spread and restocked the church's supply.
"It was truly amazing how the community stepped up and replenished what was stolen," she said.