by peter e. bortner
ORWIGSBURG - Robert D. Schappell Jr. remains behind bars after waiving his right to a preliminary hearing Tuesday on two sets of charges, including one involving his alleged theft of more than $200,000 from a Schuylkill Haven automobile dealer.
Schappell, 42, of Deer Lake, faces 21 counts each of theft, theft by deception and receiving stolen property in one case and single charges of theft by deception, receiving stolen property and deceptive business practices in the other.
Magisterial District Judge James R. Ferrier bound over all charges for court after Schappell waived his right to the hearing.
Ferrier also rejected the request of Assistant Public Defender Christopher M. Riedlinger, Schappell's lawyer, to reduce his client's bail from $80,000 percentage cash in the first case and $50,000 straight cash in the second, saying Schappell has a sick mother and is not a flight risk.
"The bail is high for theft-related cases," Riedlinger said. "I'm asking for a bail reduction to unsecured."
However, Assistant District Attorney James P. Flagella opposed any bail reduction in either case, and Ferrier concurred.
"I am not going to reduce the bail in either case," the judge said.
Schappell, who wore handcuffs and a prison jumpsuit, said nothing during or while leaving the hearing.
Schuylkill Haven borough police alleged that between June 25, 2013, and Oct. 23, Schappell took $202,500 from Bruce Stidham, owner of Bruce's Auto Mall, Center and Dock streets, in exchange for several Corvettes and other vehicles.
However, Schappell neither provided any vehicles nor returned any of the money to Stidham, police said.
In the other case, state police at Schuylkill Haven charged Schappell with selling a vehicle that did not belong to him.
Police said Schappell sold a red 2005 Hummer H2 for $8,500 to Larry Luckenbill on Nov. 15, 2013. However, the Hummer belonged to Lehigh Valley Cars, police said.
