Crime & Safety

Orefield Man Charged with Break-in, Assault, Threats

The following information was supplied by South Whitehall Police in court records. Arrests do not indicate a conviction.

 

A 25-year-old Orefield man is charged with breaking into a residence on Route 309 in South Whitehall in the early morning of Sept. 2, threatening to kill a man there, and assaulting him and the woman who rented the property, according to court documents.

Shawn Rodney Muth, of 2511 Route 309, Orefield, is charged with burglary, criminal trespass, simple assault, terroristic threats, harassment and criminal mischief.

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According to the arrest affidavit:

* Muth broke down the rear door of 2311 Route 309, Orefield, at 4:51 a.m. and charged toward Eric Klemp, who was in the house. Muth yelled that he was going to kill him. Klemp held him back with a kitchen chair.

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* Muth got the chair, striking both Klemp and the woman who rented the home, Laurie Szoldatits. He chased Klemp out of the house and through the yard, saying he was going to kill him. 

* When Klemp informed him that police were on their way, Muth got into a vehicle, drove toward Klemp in the driveway and fled. Klemp moved out of way to avoid getting struck.

Prior to breaking into the house, according to the arrest affidavit, Muth started texting Szoldatits' cellphone at 2:07 a.m. and threw rocks at the bedroom window. Muth was told to leave, but texts continued, and at 4:51 a.m., Klemp and Szoldatits heard banging at the rear door, the affidavit says.

Klemp called 9-1-1. When police arrived, they found the rear door and frame broken and saw blood on floor of the kitchen, hallway and first-floor bathroom.

Klemp and Szoldatits suffered bruises. Szoldatits required five stitches for a cut below her eye, according to court documents.

District Judge Robert Halal arraigned Muth and set bail at $250,000.

Arrests do not indicate a conviction.


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