A 36-year-old Frackville man was jailed in Schuylkill County Prison on $100,000 bail after police said he was caught driving a stolen vehicle and various drugs were found in his possession in Saint Clair.
Saint Clair police charged Charles Audkaitis, of 615 W. Arch St., with felonies of receiving stolen property and possession with intent to deliver on Wednesday after they conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle reportedly stolen out of Mount Carmel.
Police said they spotted a white Ford van on Hancock Street that was making excessive exhaust noise, and conducted a stop. Police checked the license plate and found the registration had expired in September. A records check showed the van was reported stolen.
When questioned by police, Audkaitis said he was aware of an exhaust leak on the car and said he did not have any documentation for the vehicle, claiming he was painting it for a friend. Police also found he had an active arrest warrant from Wisconsin on a charge of terroristic threats, and detained him.
Mount Carmel police confirmed that the vehicle was reported stolen.
Police removed and searched the defendant’s property from the vehicle and found various substances, including suspected methamphetamine, as well as pieces of drug paraphernalia.
In addition to the felonies, Audkaitis faces misdemeanor charges of possession of a controlled substance, drug paraphernalia and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.
Audkaitis was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Stephen J. Bayer in Tamaqua and jailed in county prison, unable to post $100,000 bail.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 24 before District Judge Edward M. Lewis in Port Carbon.