A Clarendon man found guilty in a series of car thefts in August was sentenced Friday to a minimum of nine months, and a maximum of 18, in a state correctional institution by Judge Gregory Hammond.
Jeremiah Scott Kay, currently incarcerated in the Warren County Jail, was sentenced to three to six months in an SCI on three different dockets. He was sentenced on three counts of unauthorized use of an automobile, two counts of driving while under suspension and one count of possession - small amount of marijuana.
Kay was originally taken into custody after being found under the Fifth Avenue Bridge in Warren in the early morning hours on Wednesday, Aug. 29.
He allegedly stole a 1998 Jeep Wrangler from a Grant Street residence the Friday before. City of Warren police said Kay admitted to the theft during an interview. Police said he also admitted to stealing a 2005 GMC Envoy from the Eagles Club parking lot in November 2010.
Kay's string of thefts started on Monday, Aug. 27, when he allegedly stole a 2009 Mercury Milan from a Buchanan Street residence.
Police said they responded at the scene Monday morning after the victim found the vehicle missing.
The victim's husband contacted city police nearly an hour later with a possible location of the vehicle near the intersection of Russell Street and Madison Avenue.
Kay allegedly abandoned the vehicle and fled into the surrounding neighborhood. As police searched for him Monday into Tuesday, also the first day of school, South Street Early Learning Center was put on lockdown and dismissal was ultimately delayed due to the search.
Kay was found early Wednesday morning hiding under the Fifth Avenue Bridge, according to police.
Police said when they found Kay, and arrested him on a probation violation, he was found to be in possession of two small clear bags of suspected marijuana and a homemade marijuana pipe.
Conewango Township Police also reported that Kay was charged with retail theft after he allegedly drove a stolen vehicle to the Kwik Fill gas station near the Warren Mall, pumped $45 worth of gas and then fled without paying.
In addition to the period of incarceration, Kay was fined a total of $2,000, ordered to pay the costs of prosecution and assessed a total of $1,150 in fees. His driving privileges were suspended for three years and he was ordered to pay back three amounts of restitution: $1,402.26, $322.50 and $630 for a total of $2,354.76.