Warrant issued in home invasion
State police have secured a warrant for the arrest of a Fairchance man accused of holding a German Township couple at gunpoint in their home and robbing them Sunday afternoon. Magisterial District Judge Randy S. Abraham issued the warrant Monday evening for Joshua Allen Hice, 28, of 9 Hicks St. on charges robbery, burglary, recklessly endangering another person, criminal mischief, criminal conspiracy to commit robbery, theft, simple assault and terroristic threats.
Trooper John S. Krause said the incident occurred around 5:40 p.m. at the 102 Hill View Road home of Domenick and Patrice Pontorero.
Krause said Hice and an unidentified man arrived at the Pontorero residence and asked for directions.
He said that while asking for directions, Hice, who was the passenger in the vehicle, got out of the car and approached Domenick Pontorero with a sawed off shotgun demanding money.
Krause said Domenick Pontorero gave Hice the money from his wallet and was then ordered into the home by Hice.
Once inside, Krause said Hice knocked the telephone from the wall and held the gun on both Domenick Pontorero and his wife, and demanded more money and jewelry.
While they were complying with Hice’s demands, Krause said the driver of the vehicle entered the couple’s garage and stole a computer.
During the home invasion, Hice continually threatened to kill the couple while holding them at gunpoint, Krause said.
The second suspect is described only as a white man in his mid-30s, police said.
Hice and his conspirator fled the scene in a mid-1990s gray or green compact car with a doughnut replacement tire on the rear driver’s side, police said. The car is in poor condition.
Anyone with information on Hice’s whereabouts is asked to call police at 724-439-7111.