Police charge two in theft of cancer donations
Christine Schaney said she hopes the people who stole donations intended for her 5-year-old niece who has cancer will be sentenced to work at a cancer treatment facility to see how severely the disease impacts people. She got her first live look at two of the three people state police charged with stealing the donation box for Alexandra Schaney from Panera Bread in South Union Township on Thursday at Senior Magisterial District Judge Lawrence Blair’s office.
Douglas Lee Gump, 19, and Mary Elizabeth Landman, 39, both of the Evergreen Mobile Home Court in Greensboro, Greene County, waived their preliminary hearings on theft charges police filed for allegedly stealing the donation box.
Gump has been charged with theft, criminal conspiracy to commit theft and receiving stolen property.
Landman faces charges of conspiracy to commit theft and receiving stolen property.
All the charges are misdemeanors.
Blair changed their bond from $10,000 straight cash to $10,000 unsecured.
The case against them will be forwarded to Common Pleas Court where they will either have a trial or accept a plea agreement.
“I feel they should have to work at a cancer treatment center to know what cancer patients deal with,” Schaney said.
Prior to Thursday, Schaney had only seen Gump’s image on footage from Panera’s surveillance camera that showed him taking the box from the restaurant.
Police have a warrant for Gump’s uncle, Richard Leo Gump, who also lives in the Evergreen Mobile Home Court.
Last week, after the younger Gump and Landman were arrested, Trooper Charles M. Morrison said at least one of the suspects used the box to collect more money door-to-door in the Greensboro and Bobtown areas.
He said the younger Gump signed a confession stating that the money was spent on drugs and that his uncle drove him to the restaurant.
Police said he is on probation from previous charges of stealing other donation containers from convenience stores in Greene County.
Keri Harmicar, marketing coordinator for Covelli Enterprises, the Panera franchisee that runs the South Union caf?, said the theft has not stopped Panera form helping charities.
She attended the scheduled hearing with Schaney.
“We’re very committed to the communities we’re in,” Harmicar said. “This is another way to demonstrate that commitment.”
In “Operation Donation,” Panera allows each of its restaurants to collect donations for different charities every month, she said.
While the box contained about $100 before it was stolen, much more money will likely be raised for Schaney’s niece through “Angels for Alexandra” events today and Sunday.
Panera is donating all the profits it generates from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. today to the fund.
Sunday is “Alexandra Schaney Day” at Woodland Zoo’s Herald-Standard Pavilion in Farmington.
The fund-raising event features eight bands and a car and motorcycle show from noon to 8 p.m. Children under 12 years old will be admitted free. Tickets cost $12 at the gate.
Alexandra Schaney was diagnosed with cancer in April 2004.
She is the daughter of Clint and Kelly Schaney who moved from South Union Township to North Carolina in 2000.