Felony Charges Upheld Against Montgomery Burglary Suspect

 A Hatfield man, who allegedly was caught by a homeowner burglarizing their home on Douglass Road in Montgomery Township on Nov. 14, heads to Montgomery County court following a preliminary hearing Monday, according to The Reporter.

Justin Dipanfilo, 33, had the following charges upheld by District Judge Andrea Duffy in Montgomeryville: felony burglary, felony criminal trespass, felony criminal attempted theft, and misdemeanor charges of aggravated assault, two counts of simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, theft, receiving stolen property, two counts of criminal mischief and possessing an instrument of crime, according to court records.

Dipanfilo has arraignment scheduled for Jan. 16. He remains incarcerated at Montgomery County prison on $50,000 bail, according to the article.

Dipanfilo has been arrested on criminal offenses in Montgomery County nine times since 2000, according to court records. Seven of those cases were tried at the Court of Common Pleas level.

In 2010, Dipanfilo was found not guilty of burglary and attempted burglary in Hatfield Township in 2009, but was found guilty of felony criminal trespassing — breaking into a structure and attempted criminal trepassing, according to court records. He was sentenced to a maximum of three years in prison in May 2010, serving 302 days, according to court records.

Dipanfilo was also sentenced to four years' probation in May 2010.

In 2003, Dipanfilo was found guilty of two counts of intimidating a witness or victim/preventing from filing a report from an Abington Township arrest, and sentenced to two years in prison, according to court records.

Dipanfilo allegedly burglarized a home around 2:46 p.m. Nov. 14 on the unit block of Douglass Road, police said.

The female homeowner entered her garage and allegedly interrupted Dipanfilo in the process of the burglary, police said.

Montgomery County Police scanner reports identified the home as 33 Douglass Road.

Dipanfilo allegedly gathered items from the home inside the garage, police said.

Dipanfilo allegedly fled on foot through rear yards toward Andrew Lane, police said.

A landscaper working in the area saw Dipanfilo and followed him until the arrival of police, police said.

Dipanfilo was allegedly hiding behind a shed, where he was taken into custody, police said.