Aug 15, 2018 2 min read

In connection with a dozen separate cases that included a grocery store robbery, a burglary, thefts at various retail establishments and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, a local man will be serving penitentiary time.

Kenneth James Haskey Jr., 31, who had several addresses in the Washington area before he was incarcerated, pleaded guilty to a single count from each of the 12 cases Tuesday in Washington County Court.

Assistant District Attorney John Friedmann, as part of a negotiated plea, requested Judge Valarie Costanzo sentence Haskey to 5 to 10 years in prison followed by a decade of probation.

“Are you accepting responsibility?” the judge asked Haskey, who replied, “Yes, I am.”

Costanzo also ordered Haskey to have no contact with any of his victims and pay more than $4,000 in restitution.

Haskey’s attorney, Assistant Public Defender Jake Mihalov, noted the county jail would compute Haskey’s time served.

The robbery at the Interstate Foodland store in Canton Township occurred Jan. 16, 2017, when state police alleged a man they later identified as Haskey through fingerprints requested change and pulled a knife when a 16-year-old cashier opened a register drawer.

In South Strabane Township, police said businesses targeted in April and March for retail thefts included Lowe’s home store, Strabane Square, and Kay’s Jewelers and Jared Vault, Tanger Outlets, where they accused Haskey of grabbing a diamond ring and watch while clerks were showing him merchandise.

State police took Haskey into custody after the unauthorized use of a vehicle was reported in April.

According to online court records, Haskey also entered a guilty plea last month in Allegheny County Court to retail theft and driving while his operating privilege was suspended or revoked.

Castle Shannon Police Chief Kenneth Truver said the charge was filed in connection with the March 26 theft of a carton of cigarettes from a Sunoco station on Library Road. Haskey was sentenced to 5 to 10 days and fined $200.