June 10, 2015- Commonwealth v Shawn Stewart: On June 10, 2015, a Dauphin County jury returned a verdict of guilty against 37 year old Shawn A. Stewart, of Harrisburg. The jury deliberated just shy of two hours before finding Stewart guilty of all counts- including Robbery, Burglary, Conspiracy to Robbery, Conspiracy to Burglary, Conspiracy to Unlawful Restraint, Conspiracy to False Imprisonment, Recklessly Endangering Another Person, Simple Assault, Theft and Criminal Use of a Communication Facility.  Following the verdict, the presiding Judge, the Honorable John F. Cherry, directed that Stewart’s bail be set at $1 million, with no bond acceptable.

The charges stemmed from a violent home invasion armed robbery that occurred January 6, 2014, on the 2200 block of Georgetown Rd. in Lower Swatara Township, Dauphin County. During the mid-morning hours on January 6, Stewart, along with two yet-known accomplices, knocked on the townhouse door where the 71 year-old victim was temporarily living with his daughter and grandsons.  Upon opening the door, one of the three assailants brandished a handgun, and all three forced their way into the home.  Once inside the 71 year old victim was ordered to the floor at gunpoint where his hands where zip-tied behind his back and his head covered.  Approximately 10 minutes later, the three exited the townhouse, taking only a single suitcase from the upstairs bedroom.  Following a comprehensive investigation by Lower Swatara Township Police Detectives Robert Appleby and Ryan Gartland, officers learned that Stewart had specifically targeted this address while he was in an intimate relationship with the victim’s 39 year-old daughter, believing in error that there was a large sum of cash hidden in the house.   

During the three day trial, jurors heard evidence from the 71 year-old victim, his daughter, and investigating detectives. Further, jurors were presented with expert testimony from a Special Agent with the FBI’s Violent Crimes Task Force in the area of historical cellular phone records analysis, as well as testimony from an intelligence analyst from the Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Intelligence Center (PaCiC). 

Stewart’s sentencing is currently scheduled to be held on August 3, 2015, before the Honorable Judge John F. Cherry, where he faces a possible sentence of up to 100 years in a Pennsylvania state prison.

Police investigation remains ongoing for the other uncharged suspects.

This case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Joel Hogentogler for the Commonwealth.