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Man charged with forgery released on bail

LEWISTOWN — Following a hearing Tuesday, Matthew Mazzoni, 30, of Lewistown, was released on nominal bail, ordered by Judge Aaron Gingrich, according to court documents.

Gingrich’s ruling was based on 234 Pa. Code Rule 600, which states that “no defendant shall be held in pre-trial incarceration in excess of 180 days from the date on which the complaint is filed.”

Mazzoni was incarcerated in July 2018, after having been charged with two counts forgery and one count theft by deception, court documents state. According to court documents, in early May, Mazzoni reportedly left the Lewistown Walmart concealing items without paying for them.

Walmart security employees identified Mazzoni to police from previous retail theft incidents involving him. A staff member reportedly said he observed Mazzoni in the toy department and followed him through the store. The employee reported he immediately observed Mazzoni remove a security device from a cell phone case in the toy department and hide the spider wire security device in a bag of toys.

The employee further reported observing Mazzoni select various tools from the hardware department and conceal the items in his pants pockets and waste line, then proceed to the self-check-out and pay for the items listed on Mazzoni’s receipt. Police also reportedly recovered several packages from which Mazzoni reportedly removed items, totaling more than $40, and the spider wire security device, which had not been cut from the merchandise.

Later in May, Mazzoni reportedly created a counterfeit identity on Letgo and purchased an Apple iPhone 6 with two counterfeit $100 bills from an alleged male victim. The accuser reportedly said he and Mazzoni, posing as “John Kingston,” had exchanged messages regarding the purchase of the phone several times, initially scheduling to meet at a store in Wayne Township.

When Mazzoni reportedly did not show up to the meet, the accuser said he contacted Mazzoni, who reportedly said his car had broken down in Lewistown and wanted to meet at a different store. The accuser agreed and met Mazzoni, then reportedly began to chase Mazzoni in a vehicle pursuit when he realized the money used to purchase the phone was counterfeit.

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