Nov 19, 2015 2 min read

A Westmoreland County man was arraigned by video Wednesday on theft and related counts after state police refiled charges against him for allegedly stealing almost $10,000 from an Allenport contractor earlier this year.

Matthew E. Galmoff, 30, of Avonmore, was charged for a second time with theft, theft by deception, receiving stolen property, theft by failure to make required disposition of funds, access device fraud and identity theft.

The original charges were dismissed Nov. 9 by District Judge Larry Hopkins because the alleged victim, Joseph Friel of Custom Craft Construction, was in the hospital and unable to attend the preliminary hearing to testify. A Washington County assistant district attorney gave police permission to refile charges against Galmoff. Healey E. Mazur, 21, also of Avonmore, also had charges of theft by deception and receiving stolen property against her dismissed, but police did not refile those charges.

Friel told state police he had placed an advertisement seeking a manager to oversee the construction company’s day-to-day operations, complete projects and take payments to deposit into the bank account. After interviewing Galmoff, Friel said he hired him.

Galmoff reportedly was given $2,000 to purchase office supplies, as well as $300 to set up a joint bank account that required two signatures. The account was never set up, police said. Galmoff also allegedly received two checks from a homeowner who hired the company to do work, but the checks were made out to him and not the company. He also allegedly posed as Friel in dealings with a customer referral company that charged Friel for that service. Friel told police he was out $9,900.

Galmoff has been incarcerated in Armstrong County jail since October after a judge in that county revoked his participation in the Intermediate Punishment Program on drunken driving and other charges. Hopkins set bond at $100,000 at his arraignment Wednesday. He is scheduled for a Jan. 7 preliminary hearing before Hopkins.