A Philadelphia man is behind bars after pleading guilty to attempting to steal catalytic converters near a business off of County Line Road in April 2022.
Carlos Betancourt, 30, was sentenced last month to one year in county jail and one year of probation after pleading guilty to charges of criminal attempt – theft from a motor vehicle and possession of an instrument of crime. Additional charges of criminal attempt – theft by unlawful taking and defiant trespassing were dropped in exchange for Betancourt’s plea, court records show.
The jailtime and probation periods will be served concurrently, according to court records. Betancourt was also ordered to stay away from the Green Acres Nursery, and sentencing notes indicate he is eligible for the state’s Boot Camp Program.
Hatfield Township Police were on patrol in the area of the 200 block of County Line Road at 12:19 a.m. on April 28, 2022, when they observed a subject wearing all dark clothing standing at the nearby bridge. Police said the subject jumped off the bridge into the creek below, and they were initially unable to locate them.
After returning to the area where the subject was initially spotted, police said they found a black duffel bag parked next to a vehicle. Inside of the bag, police found a variety of tools and gloves commonly used to cut and steal catalytic converters, according to charging documents.
About an hour later, police located the subject — later identified as 30-year-old Carlos Betancourt, of Philadelphia — in the creek, and he was subsequently taken into custody after a brief foot pursuit down County Line Road, police said.
During an interview with investigators, Betancourt allegedly stated that he was smoking weed in the nearby parking lot and had lost his phone. Betancourt denied that the duffel bag and tools belonged to him and added that he wasn’t trying to steal catalytic converters, then refused to continue the interview, according to police.
See also:
Hatfield Man Sentenced to Jail Time, Probation for Stalking Bucks County Woman
Man Sentenced to Prison After Pleading Guilty to 8th DUI Since 2010
Hilltown Man Sentenced to Prison for Sexual Abuse of 14-Year-Old Girl
Lansdale Man Pleads Guilty to Abuse of A Corpse in Death of Danny Torres
Hatfield Man Pleads Guilty to Child Porn Possession Following
