Police in Richland Township have charged a South Fork man after he was accused of breaking into an 89-year-old woman’s home, assaulting her and robbing her.
Authorities say 53-year-old Richard Hall is behind bars on charges of burglary, robbery, criminal trespass, theft and simple assault, according to online court records.
According to the affidavit, police were dispatched to a residence on Dwight Drive, on the evening of Sept. 9, for a reported burglary.
Police say the 89-year-old victim told police that a man, later identified as Hall, had approached her front door and forced his way inside her home.
Police say Hall reportedly demanded ten-thousand-dollars cash from the victim, which she told him she did not have.
Investigators say Hall refused to leave the home and began assaulting the woman by pushing and slapping her.
Police say Hall then moved the woman from room to room while he searched for cash and valuables.
Authorities say Hall reportedly stole two containers of change from the woman’s bedroom, valued at approximately $100, as well as a garage door remote and the woman’s cordless telephone.
Police say the victim suffered a small laceration to her arm from when Hall reportedly grabbed her and she told police that she feared for her life during the encounter.
Upon further investigation, police say Hall was identified on surveillance video at Market Basket, which showed him walking from the parking lot, down Dwight Drive and to the victim’s residence.
Hall was taken into custody on Sept. 10 and is being housed at the Cambria County Prison on $400,000 bail, court dockets show.
His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 14.