Mar 6, 2016 2 min read

State police in Waynesburg are looking for an inmate from Greene County jail who failed to return after a scheduled medical furlough Sunday night.

Matthew Bartimus, 42, of Bethesda, Ohio, is wanted for escape from the jail, where he had been held since September 21. He is white, stands 6 feet tall, weighs 230 pounds and has brown hair and blue eyes.

State police charged Bartimus with theft and criminal trespassing in Aug. 11 and 13 thefts from CNX well pads in Morris Township.

During the daylight heists, Bartimus loaded a small flaring chimney, nine pipeline choking systems, nearly two-dozen shutoff valves and numerous studs and bolts into his truck, state police said.

Workers told police they saw a man matching Bartimus’ description loading “several bolts and wing valves” into his truck at the Boothe School Road well site Aug. 11.

Another worker said he saw the same man two days later closing his truck tailgate and driving off the Dunns School/Timberline well pad as employees approached.

Bartimus was arrested at the Boothe School well site Sept. 21 when workers stopped him before he could leave.

Police said he tried to steal $1,000 worth of studs and nuts before employees confronted him and held him until troopers arrived. He was charged with criminal attempt and trespassing.

Police said the two drill sites were missing a total of $101,696 in equipment after the August thefts.

Police said the Abutec 100 flaring chimney is valued at nearly $20,000. The nine choking systems are worth a combined $67,528, and the 23 valves are estimated to cost $9,778.

Police interviewed Bartimus on Sept. 21, and he admitted to the thefts at the well sites, according to court documents.

Anyone who has information regarding Bartimus’ whereabouts is asked to call state police in Waynesburg at 724-627-6151.