A Towamencin men who broke into a home on Derstine Avenue in June — and then jumped from the second-floor roof, suffering leg injuries — has admitted to his crime in a guilty plea in Montgomery County Court, and avoided jail time.
Bennie Rockeem Hall, 26, of Weikel Road, pleaded guilty to felony criminal trespass this week, according to WNPV. He avoided prosecution on a felony burglary charge and a felony attempt charge, according to WNPV.
Hall must serve five years’ probation, plus 24 hours of community service. He must also pay a $200 fine, according to WNPV.
Hall broke into a home on the 800 block of Derstine Avenue on June 8, 2012. He filled a duffel bag of items, before escaping onto the second-floor roof when police announced their presence.
Hall previously pleaded guilty to a 2009 retail theft in Lansdale in January 2010, according to court records.
On June 8, at around 2:37 a.m., Lansdale Police responded to a home on the 800 block of Derstine Avenue after a homeowner reported that someone was inside their home, police said.
Police met with the homeowner who said the suspect, later identified as Hall, was still inside, police said.
While setting up a perimeter around the home, police saw Hall looking through a first-floor window at them, police said.
Officers made their way to the rear of the home and heard Hall punching out a screen on a second-floor window in the rear of the home, police said.
Police made their presence known and Hall retreated to a second-story window in the front of the home. Hall climbed out of a window on the west side of the home onto the roof, police said.
Hall then jumped to the ground, where he was taken into custody, police said.
Hall suffered serious injuries to his legs as a result of his jump, police said. He was taken to Abington Memorial Hospital in Abington to be treated, police said.
Police said they found a duffel bag inside the home filled with the homeowner's personal property.
A knife was found on Hall that police said was used to gain entry into the home by cutting a screen on a lower-level window, police said.
