close

Coal Center man charged again with theft of scrap metals

By Mark Hofmann mhofmann@heraldstandard.Com 2 min read

More charges have been filed against a Coal Center man for a second incident where he allegedly conspired to steal up to 150 pounds of scrap aluminum from a residence.

On Friday, Mac Molek, 38, was charged with theft of secondary metal, criminal conspiracy, criminal trespass, theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property before Magisterial District Judge Joseph Dalfonso.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, Molek and Daniel Mark Trenk, 45, of Belle Vernon allegedly conspired to steal several large garbage bags full of Miller Lite beer cans from Trenk’s brother’s home in Monessen.

Upon noticing the nearly 230 pounds of cans missing, Trenk’s brother contacted Monessen Police, who found that Molek made two separate trips to Webster Metals and Recycling LLC and turned in similar loads of scrap on Feb. 28.

As the investigation of the cans was being conducted, another officer conducted a traffic stop on Molek after allegedly observing him rushing to place and piece of pipe is his truck along Shoonmaker Avenue in Monessen on March 9.

Molek denied stealing the pipe, but after police investigated, they found that the pipe and other material police found in Molek’s truck was allegedly stolen from a residence.

Police took Molek into custody at the scrap yard and filed charges.

Molek was interviewed by police on March 9 about the missing aluminum cans, and initially denied any involvement with the theft, police said.

He later admitted the cans were Miller Lite beer cans, and then confessed, according to court paperwork.

Both Molek and Daniel Trenk made two trips to the home, turned in both loads, divided the profits and went their separate ways, police alleged.

Molek provided a written statement to police of the incident.

Molek is currently lodged in the Westmoreland County Prison in lieu of $35,000 for the alleged pipe theft with a preliminary hearing scheduled for March 23 for both incidents.

Trenk was arraigned Thursday with a preliminary hearing scheduled at 10:15 a.m. March 23; he is free on non-monetary bond.

CUSTOMER LOGIN

If you have an account and are registered for online access, sign in with your email address and password below.

NEW CUSTOMERS/UNREGISTERED ACCOUNTS

Never been a subscriber and want to subscribe, click the Subscribe button below.

Starting at $4.79/week.

Subscribe Today