Chambersburg man charged in connection with regional chop shop
CHAMBERSBURG - A Chambersburg man is due in court Tuesday on accusations that he was involved in a chop shop where vehicles stolen from around the region were deconstructed.
Phenrick Douglas Gilliam III, 18, is charged with felony "transports, sells, transfers, purchases, etc, illegally obtained from a chop shop," receiving stolen property and disposition of a vehicle or vehicle part with altered vehicle identification number.
Austin Eckert, 23, of York, is also accused of being involved with the chop shop. He faces the same charges as Gilliam, plus an additional count of knowledge that property is proceeds of an illegal act, theft by unlawful taking and corruption of minors.
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The investigation began in July 2016 after the Chambersburg barracks of Pennsylvania State Police received a report that a previously stolen 2015 Yamaha ATV had an "obliterated" VIN when it was recovered, according to court documents filed with Magisterial District Judge Glenn Manns. The ATV was found at a Grandview Avenue residence in Chambersburg.
The ATV is worth an estimated $14,000, according to court documents.
The owner of the ATV told police someone had contacted him after an ATV that looked like his was seen in a backyard.
Troopers went to that residence, recovered the ATV, and the man was able to identify it as his own.
A witness told police a dirt bike was also seen on the property where the ATV was found.
When investigators went back to the property, they could see a blue dirt bike partially dismantled resting on a large box in the yard, with the motor and transmission removed, according to court documents. Officers could not find the residents at the time, but confirmed the bike matched the description of one missing out of Northern York.
During the investigation, Eckert, who went by "Slim," and another man were identified as suspects. Eckert was actively wanted in York, accused of being involved in the theft of the bike, according to court documents.
Gilliam was also identified as someone police should speak to.
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Police later returned to the Grandview Avenue residence again after determining they should check a shed there. There they found a 2010 KTM dirt bike, the body, various parts, motor and transmission for a stolen 2003 Yamaha YZ450F dirt bike, a Pennsylvania ATV registration plate (which was later found to belong to the first ATV found), and a small, green camouflage 125cc ATV. In addition, a fuel tank typically associated with pickup trucks was found behind the shed.
Later, police confirmed that gas tank belonged to a recovered Toyota Tacoma truck that had been stolen from Gettysburg.
Also in the shed, were also tools such as an electric grinder, a large yellow pry bar and large red bolt cutters on a work bench next to one of the dirt bikes.
All of the items were seized.
Police were eventually able to speak to the owner of the residence, who said the property was being rented to a woman and identified Gilliam as that woman's boyfriend. The owner also had received complaints that people were riding four-wheelers on the property.
In an interview with police, Eckert identified Gilliam and said he stayed with him on and off during the summer.
Eckert admitted to several thefts, including that of an ATV and dirt bike that were taken from the Chambersburg area. He said Gilliam or another person may have done some of the work on them, and that Gilliam let him store vehicles on the Grandview Avenue property.
A man claiming to be Gilliam called police from a restricted number on Nov. 18. He said he was working and trying to get his life back together, and refused to come talk to police about the investigation. He told police to "do what you have to do," according to court documents.
Gilliam was brought in on April 11 and bail was set at $50,000, which he posted the same day. Eckert is being held at SCI Camp Hill, and was arraigned locally with bail set at $100,000. Eckert's preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 9.
Becky Metrick, 717-262-4762