Bellevue Man Pleads Not Guilty to Burglary, Conspiracy Charges

A 24-year-old Bellevue man facing a long list of burglary, theft and other charges in several North Hills municipalities pleaded not guilty Wednesday to burglarizing two homes in Marshall Township.

After a preliminary hearing,  was ordered to stand trial on two felony counts of burglary and one felony count of criminal conspiracy by Magisterial District Judge William K. Wagner. 

He will be tried in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas. A formal arraignment is set for March 13. Sigal is being held in Allegheny County Jail.

At Wednesday's hearing, a Wheatland Road homeowner testified that he and his wife came home to find their 46-inch Samsung TV in the driveway and an open back door. They called police from a neighbor's home, he said.

A 32-inch Samsung TV had been stolen from the master bedroom as well as a jewelry box with "an extensive amount of jewelry," he said.

A Locust Road resident testified that she returned home from shopping Nov. 29 to find the wood on her back-door window had been pushed aside, enabling someone to reach in and unlock the door.

The doors on her five-foot-tall jewelry box were open and "everything gold was completely gone," she said.

Asked by defense attorney Kelli Kleeb of Porta-Clark & Ward if they had seen anyone at the time, both witnesses answered "No."

Officer Scott Rick testified that Sigal admitted to both burglaries in an interview at the Ross Township Police Department.

After a lengthy investigation, numerous police agencies working together arrested Sigal at his apartment on Dec. 14, the day after the Wheatland Road burglary, Rick said.

Sigal is charged with burglary, theft, criminal conspiracy, receiving stolen property and other crimes in Ross, Shaler, Reserve and Ohio townships and West View. 

Kleeb asked how many officers made the arrest.

Rick testified that he was one of "maybe four" who went in with guns drawn and the rest of the officers remained outside.

He said Sigal was taken into custody, searched and consented to a police search of his apartment.

Rick said Sigal told him that he and two others went to the Wheatland Road home. Sigal said he went to the front door to see if anyone was home, then went to the back and threw a rock through a window in the back door to get inside, Rick testified.

Sigal said he took a 32-inch TV and jewelry, but dropped a 46-inch TV in the driveway because it was too heavy, according to Rick's testimony.

"He gave a perfect description of Wheatland Road ... that matched my investigation," Rick said.

He testified that Sigal also admitted to the Locust Road burglary.

When shown a photo of the house there, Sigal told police: "It looks like the house but I was always (messed) up on dope or going through withdrawal," according to the criminal complaint. 

Sigal also is charged with conspiring with two women in the Wheatland Road burglary.

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Northern Regional police charged Naill with felony counts of receiving stolen property, burglary and conspiracy. She also faces drug-related charges in Moon and Ross townships.

Jenkins is charged with felony counts of burglary and conspiracy. She also is charged with burglary, theft, receiving stolen property and other crimes in West View and Reserve, Ross and Ohio townships.