Mom Accused of Helping Son Steal Gets ARD

The Nazareth mom accused of driving her 16-year-old son and his friend across the Lehigh Valley to break into unlocked vehicles will have a clean record if she follows through on probation.

Christine Petchonka, 46, of the 100 block of S. Main Street, was accepted Monday into the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program for first-time offenders, according to a report in The Morning Call.

The report says Petchonka's record will be expunged if she completes nine months of probation and pays court costs and fines.

Petchonka had been facing charges of recklessly endangering another person, criminal conspiracy—theft from a motor vehicle, loitering or prowling at nighttime and theft from a motor vehicle.

According to a police criminal complaint filed by Officer Daniel Troxell, Petchonka admitted to driving the two boys and Ian Shoemaker, 29, so they could “steal from cars in a certain area on a random night.”

Petchonka stashed a variety of electronic devices, like GPS systems, cameras and cell phones, at Nazareth Pike Self Storage in Lower Nazareth Township. Shoemaker, the complaint says, gave the stolen goods to Petchonka for storing purposes.

In one of several purses in the storage unit, according to the complaint, Troxell found six GPS systems, multiple cell phones and other electronics.

Petchonka also admitted to police that items were sometimes pawned at locations in Easton and Allentown. Because not all of the items can be accounted for, Nazareth Police Chief Thomas Trachta estimates $20,000 in goods were stolen over several months. 

Petchonka’s son and the other 16-year-old male were also charged—in juvenile court—for their roles in the thefts.

Shoemaker, who faced a whopping 410 counts, pleaded guilty in February to conspiracy—theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property, court records say. He was sentenced to five to 23 months in prison and two years' probation.

But when Shoemaker was taken into custody in Plainfield Township, he claimed to be a Nebraska resident planning to take a bus back home the next day.

Court records say Shoemaker also pleaded guilty in February to giving false identification to a law enforcement officer and was sentenced to an additional three to 12 months in prison.