Dec 2, 2013 2 min read

Two Charleroi men were arrested last week by Charleroi Regional police for allegedly enlisting the help of two boys in stealing a car and other items from Charleroi and North Charleroi.

Erik Sean-Michael Spaziani, 18, of 407 10th St., and John Wayne Koster III, 19, of 1010 Meadow Ave., were taken into custody Wednesday on charges of theft, conspiracy, receiving stolen property and corruption of minors.

The mother of one of the boys came to the Charleroi Regional police station Nov. 26 to report she suspected her son of stealing items from vehicles. She told police her son also was in possession of electronic devices that she believed were stolen. Her son reportedly had global-positioning devices, Xboxes and radios that she suspected he was selling for drugs. The mother also told police Koster was staying with them and had similar items in his bedroom.

The mother returned to the station about an hour later with items including a GPS that had a stored home address in Fallowfield Township.

Her son told police that he, Koster, Spaziani and the other teen agreed the previous weekend to walk around and try to steal items from vehicles. He said they found a car behind apartments on Crest Avenue with the keys inside, then drove the car around the Mon Valley before abandoning it.

Spaziani was found in a home on Washington Avenue, and Koster was found in a home on Upper Crest Avenue. Both gave police statements about their alleged involvement in the thefts.

The two men were arraigned before District Judge Joshua Kanalis and placed in Washington County jail on $50,000 bond. A preliminary hearing is set for Dec. 9 before District Judge Larry Hopkins.