Kittanning Man Attempts Two-Day Crime Spree

by Nathan Lasher

A Kittanning man was arrested on Monday for two separate occurrences of theft and robbery of a pizza delivery man.

Wilder

During the first incident, which occurred on Sunday between 10 and 10:25PM, Craig B. Wilder, 20, entered the truck of Jacob Grantz, 20, of Yatesboro. During that time, Grantz was delivering pizza from the Kittanning Pizza Hut to the Rayburn Manor Apartments. Wilder reportedly removed a wallet, cell phone, and pizzas from the vehicle.

The next day, between 7:25PM and 8:35PM, Wilder, along with Jacob Daniel Bracken, 19, of Ford City, conspired to commit a robbery against another local pizza delivery person. Bracken, who was armed with a firearm, called in a fictitious pizza delivery order for the purpose of robbing the driver of his money. The robbery reportedly did not go as planned, and the delivery man was able to flee the scene without losing his money. He then contacted the Pennsylvania State Police.

Bracken

After Bracken and Wilder had failed at their attempt to rob the pizza delivery worker, the two went to the Valley 66 Market. Once inside, Bracken pointed the handgun at the clerk and demanded that she give him all of the money from the cash register. The clerk refused, and the two left the store.

Both Bracken and Wilder were apprehended by Pennsylvania State Police at Staley’s Motel a short time later. They were accused with criminal attempt robbery, criminal conspiracy, aggravated assault, simple assault, and criminal attempt theft.

They were arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Gary DeComo yesterday morning. Wilder was committed to the Armstrong County Jail in lieu of $75,000 bond. Bracken was also incarcerated in lieu of $25,000 bond.

In making his ruling, Judge DeComo stated that he increased the bail for Wilder because he had a prior criminal record.

A hearing has been set in front of Magisterial District Judge James Owen on January 13 at 9:00 AM.