Published October 30, 2009 05:22 pm - A Milton man was jailed after he allegedly stole jewelry, cash and a laptop computer from his mother to support his heroin habit.
Son charged in thefts from mother
He allegedly took jewelry, cash, laptop computer to buy heroin
By Wayne Laepple
The Daily Item
MILTON — A Milton man was jailed after he allegedly stole jewelry, cash and a laptop computer from his mother to support his heroin habit.
Nicholas J. Machusak, 23, of 542 Bower Road, has been charged with burglary, theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, possession of drug paraphernalia and criminal trespass. He was charged before District Judge William F. Kear and taken to the Northumberland County Prison, Sunbury, in lieu of $10,000 bail.
On Oct. 20, Ivy Butterworth, Machusak’s mother, reported a grass trimmer and laptop computer missing from her home and that she suspected her son had taken them. She told state police at Milton that she had kicked him out earlier in the month and forbidden him to return.
The next day, Butterworth reported that her 1990 Lincoln Town Car was missing. Police interviewed Butterworth’s daughter, who had stayed home from school. The daughter told police she had seen her brother inside the house and also saw him leave in the car. She said she called him on his cell phone, and he said he needed the car because he was sick.
Later, Butterworth also reached Machusak by phone, and he told her he’d taken the car and her laptop. He told her if she gave him $400, he could buy the computer back from his drug dealer. She arranged to meet him in a parking lot in Williamsport, and he was taken into custody there by police.
Found in the car were empty heroin packets, a syringe and a plastic cap with suspected heroin residue, authorities said.
While under questioning, police said Machusak admitted taking the computer, $55 and the car and told officers he also had taken gold earrings and a ring before his mother kicked him out.