FRACKVILLE - A man being sought for a February burglary at a Girardville church rectory was picked up on Saturday on drug charges in Northampton County.
Christopher R. Vanallen, 28, whose last known address was 8100 Leaser Road, Kempton, was arraigned Tuesday in Schuylkill County on felony charges of burglary and theft.
Magisterial District Judge Christina E. Hale, Frackville, set bail at 10 percent of $25,000, but Vanallen is currently lodged in Northampton County Prison in lieu of $45,000.
That bail was set by Northampton County Magisterial District Judge Antonia Grifo, Easton, on charges of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and providing false information to police.
In Schuylkill County, Vanallen was wanted by state police Trooper Timothy Keating from the Frackville station stemming from a theft that occurred about 7:20 p.m. Feb. 6 at St. Vincent dePaul Catholic Church Rectory, 260 N. Second St.
Keating said Vanallen went to the rectory asking for help, saying his girlfriend would not let him in the house and that he needed to get back to the Kutztown area.
The pastor of the church said he was unable to give Vanallen a ride but offered him $80 to get home. Shortly after Vanallen had left with the money, the pastor noticed a Motorola cellular telephone and a Nintendo DS game system were missing.
The pastor said that Vanallen, who was initially unidentified, used the computer at the rectory before leaving and from a Facebook account, authorities were able to determine his name.
The investigation determined that Vanallen was dating Ashley Miller, who lived in Girardville, and a talk with her the next day revealed that Vanallen called her on Feb. 6, asked her to pick him up at the church rectory and give him a ride to Kutztown.
Miller said that, during the ride, Vanallen told her the pastor gave him $80 and also the game system and cellphone, Keating said.
Vanallen was unable to be located until he was questioned by Colonial Regional Police outside of a vehicle in the parking lot of the Wells Fargo Bank in Bath.
Authorities said officers stopped because a man, later identified as Vanallen, and a woman were near the bank while the branch was closed.
Vanallen initially provided officers with a false name and inside the car police saw a syringe and empty wax packets.
When searched, Vanallen was found with drugs that tested positive for cocaine and heroin and drug paraphernalia.