Jun 30, 2015 2 min read

A Charleroi man accused of breaking into a North Charleroi convenience store last month waived his case to court Monday.

James Robert Bunch, 30, of 828 Crest Ave., was arrested June 19 by Charleroi Regional police for allegedly burglarizing Cougar Mini Mart, 750 Lincoln Ave., two days earlier.

Police were called about 2:40 a.m. June 17 to the store for an alarm report of broken glass. When officers arrived, they discovered a burglar entered the store through a broken window.

Police reviewed the store’s surveillance and determined that a white man wearing a bandana around his neck and gloves had walked around the store. He then used a rock to break a window and entered the store. The burglar is seen jumping over the counter and grabbing several packs of cigarettes before fleeing through the broken window.

Bunch was identified as the suspect during the investigation by Detective Chad Zelinsky, according to court documents. Bunch was picked up at his home and taken to the police station. He reportedly gave the detective a written confession about his involvement in the burglary. Bunch told Zelinsky he was out to get some “food and smokes,” describing how he broke the window at the store, jumped the counter and grabbed nine packs of cigarettes.

He was arraigned before District Judge Larry Hopkins on charges of burglary, theft, receiving stolen property, criminal trespass and criminal mischief. Bunch was released from Washington County jail Thursday after posting $10,000 bond. He is scheduled for formal arraignment on the charges Sept. 1.