Felonies withdrawn, others held against 3 men accused of $19K tool and copper theft case in Franconia Township

Some felonies were withdrawn against three men with extensive criminal histories accused of taking part in a $19,000 tool and copper theft incident in Franconia Township. However, numerous other felonies and misdemeanors remain and were held or waived for Montgomery County Common Pleas Court last month.

Evan Ramon Weron, 36, of the 400 block of East Chestnut Street, Souderton, and Cody Robert Sebring, 42, of the 1200 block of Reiff Road, Towamencin Township, were each charged on May 14 by Franconia Township Police in connection with a May 5 burglary at Gouldey Welding on Allentown Road, wherein stolen items were sold to a recycling plant.

A third man authorities allege was the driver, Ayomal Y. Nanayakkara, 43, of the 500 block of East Roberts Street, Norristown, was also charged in the burglary. 

All three defendants had preliminary hearings on May 28.

Weron was initially charged with 25 offenses: Three felony counts of theft by unlawful taking, three felony counts of receiving stolen property and three associated felony conspiracy charges, two felony counts of theft of a secondary metal and two felony conspiracy charges, two misdemeanor counts of theft from a motor vehicle and two misdemeanor conspiracy to commit theft from a motor vehicle charges, three misdemeanor counts of defiant trespassing and three associated conspiracy charges, and a felony conspiracy to commit theft charge, according to court records. 

At Weron's preliminary hearing, all conspiracy charges, except for the felony conspiracy to commit theft charge, were withdrawn, according to court documents. All remaining charges were held for court. 

Sebring was originally charged with felony counts of receiving stolen property, theft of a secondary metal, and theft by unlawful taking, and misdemeanor theft from a motor vehicle. However, the felony receiving stolen property charge was withdrawn at the preliminary hearing, with all remaining charges waived for court, according to court documents.

Nanayakkara was charged with felony counts of theft, receiving stolen property, and conspiracy to commit theft. According to court records, the felony theft charge was withdrawn, with the remaining two charges waived for county court.

According to police, surveillance footage from Gouldey Welding showed two suspects – alleged to be Weron and Sebring – entering the property during the overnight hours of May 4 into May 5.

The suspects were dropped off by a blue Honda Fit, allegedly driven by Nanayakkara, which was later seen returning to load stolen items, including power tools and copper fittings, into the vehicle, police said. The same car was later found parked at Weron’s residence on East Chestnut Street, identified by a distinctive dent on the passenger side matching the footage, authorities allege.

Investigators also tracked the vehicle to Philadelphia, where Weron was allegedly captured on video selling a large quantity of copper for $1,776 at EMR Recycling. The items were confirmed by the victim as those stolen from Gouldey Welding, according to the complaint.

On May 14, authorities executed a search warrant at Weron’s Souderton home, where police made contact with Nanayakkara and Sebring, according to the complaint. Police allege the Honda Fit belongs to Nanayakkara’s mother, and he allegedly admitted to dropping off Weron and Sebring at the business and picking them up later on the side of the roadway. He admitted to helping the duo load up the numerous items into the Honda, driving them back to Weron’s house, and then taking Weron to the Philadelphia recycling center, police allege. He was then given $100 for his efforts, police said.

Sebring admitted to being dropped off by Nanayakkara with Weron, police allege, where they took numerous tools, a welder, and copper fittings from locked trucks parked in the lot. He then told authorities Weron and Nanyakkara took the items to the recycling center to be sold, wherein he was given a few hundred dollars, police said.

This case adds to Weron’s mounting legal troubles. He is currently undergoing court proceedings in two separate cases: a May 12 arrest in Hatfield Township for felony burglary related to a February incident, and a May 20 arrest in Lower Salford Township for 14 felony theft charges stemming from a May 12 incident, according to court documents.

Sebring is currently on trial in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court on misdemeanor charges of accidents involving injury or death stemming from an August 22, 2024 accident in Trappe Borough.

Weron remains at Montgomery County jail on $50,000 cash bail. Nanayakkara remains jailed on $577 cash bail, per court records. 

Sebring posted $2,077 cash bail on May 15, per court records.

Formal arraignment for all three is set for July 9, with a pre-trial conference set for Sept. 5. 

Weron is represented by public defender Keira Rhoat. Sebring is represented by court-appointed private attorney Matthew Quigg. Nanayykara is represented by court-appointed public defender Edward Rideout III. 

“Charges waived for court” is a legal phrase used in Pennsylvania and a few other states. It does not mean the charges are dropped; the defendant chose not to challenge the charges at the Magisterial District Court level, and the case is officially advancing to the county-level court.

The defendant agrees that there is enough evidence to move the case forward — without making the prosecution prove it at a preliminary hearing, thus giving up their right to such a hearing. The charges are being “waived” or moved up to the Court of Common Pleas for further proceedings. Often, waiving a preliminary hearing is part of a negotiated deal or a legal strategy

All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.