Man Pleads Guilty To Bucks Co. Knifepoint Kidnapping, Robbery: DA

UPPER SOUTHAMPTON, PA — A Philadelphia man pleaded guilty Friday to kidnapping a young man in Upper Southampton, forcing him by knifepoint to get money from an ATM, and threatening to kill him and his mother, the Bucks County District Attorney's Office said.

Pavel Belous of Philadelphia had been scheduled for a jury trial Friday, but instead entered an open guilty plea to two counts of attempted homicide and one count each of kidnapping, robbery, simple assault, terroristic threats, theft by unlawful taking and possession of an instrument of crime.

He entered the plea before President Judge Wallace H. Bateman Jr., who ordered a pre-sentence investigation and deferred sentencing for 90 days.

In June, police learned that Philadelphia Homicide Detectives had also filed homicide charges against Belous in the killing of a 62-year-old Philadelphia man that occurred in the city the week before the Bucks County crime.

Deputy District Attorney Robert D. James said in court Friday that Belous stalked a Bucks County man for an hour on March 11 of 2021, after a chance encounter at a Philadelphia convenience store. He followed that man to three different locations, the attorney said, often driving with his lights turned off to avoid detection. Prosecutors said these activities were shown on surveillance footage obtained by investigators.

Finally, Belous entered the man's car and confronted him at knifepoint in the parking lot of a McDonald’s restaurant in Upper Southampton, the DA's office detailed.

When the man gave $20, Belous forced him to drive to an ATM and withdraw $450, police said.

Belous then removed his face covering and threatened to kill the man, who had now seen his face and could identify him, the DA's office said. He ordered the man to drive to his home to get more money and the man tried to call 911 on the way, but hung up before the call was answered, according to the DA's office.

He then called his mother to say he was bringing a friend over. When they got to his house, the man's mother was outside and Belous threatened to "cut his throat," and "rape and kill your mother," according to the criminal complaint.

He threatened to then "burn your house down," saying he had "killed people before," the complaint continued.

When both Belous and the man got out of the car, the man was able to retrieve his folding Boy Scout knife from inside the car and stab Belous in the back. He then ran inside his house and called 911. Police arrested Belous when they found him hiding in the man's car.

The details of the killing in Philadelphia are similar. The DA's office said the man killed had his throat cut before his home was set on fire. Police said Belous' palm print was found on the wall in the home, and that surveillance video in the area showed Belous trying to enter the victim's car, and carrying briefcases from the victim's home.

Deputy District Attorney Robert D. James prosecuted this case for the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office. Belous now awaits sentencing.

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