Second suspect charged in OC robbery

From staff reports

A second suspect has been charged in connection with a May 20 robbery in Oil City.

A criminal complaint filed by Oil City police said Chakotay Defreese, 20, of Oil City, entered a home in the 200 block of Lincoln Street along with Jason Vanwormer, Jr., 18, of Oil City, who is also charged in the case.

The complaint says the woman who lived there confronted the two men about taking her money and wallet. Vanwormer then pointed a gun at her and told her it was loaded, the complaint said.

The two men fled through the fire escape door before Oil City police arrived, the complaint said.

Defreese and Vanwormer have been charged with felony counts of robbery, burglary, criminal trespass and three counts of conspiracy, and misdemeanor counts of simple assault, theft and related conspiracy charges.

Vanwormer was placed in the Venango County jail with bail set at $50,000. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Wednesday in Central Court.

Defreese is scheduled for arraignment at 9 a.m. today before district judge Matthew Kirtland.