A wedding crasher accused of swiping thousands of dollars in gifts from a couple on their wedding day turned himself in today ending a week-long manhunt.
Joseph Franzone Jr., 35, said "sorry" to the bride and groom as he turned himself into authorities this morning and was arraigned on various theft charges. Franzone, who lives in Bridgeport, Pa,, was sent to Montgomery County jail after being unable to post $150,000 bail, according to court records.
Gwynedd Township Police say it was Franzone who was caught on camera stealing thousands of dollars worth of wedding gifts from a wedding reception Sunday.
Investigators say a bride was moving wedding gifts from a gift table during her reception at the William Penn Inn in Lower Gwynedd Township. The bride placed the gifts, held inside a wedding cake-shaped box, into the backseat of her car. When the bride returned to her vehicle two minutes later, the box was gone along with the cards containing $3,000 to $5,000 in checks and cash, according to an affidavit of probable cause.
Police reviewed surveillance video and thanks to tips from the public and from Franzone's own girlfriend Katie Castadli were able to zero in on Franzone.
Ferman said that the investigation showed that Franzone borrowed his girlfriend's car on the date of the heist.
According to the affidavit, Castaldi told police that on the day of the thefts Franzone, who three weeks earlier was laid off from his cleaning job, borrowed her car saying he was headed to the casino. He had a gambling problem and frequented the Valley Forge Casino, Castaldi told investigators.
A search of that car revealed an envelope from wedding guests, according to investigators.
Castaldi told investigators that Franzone recently relapsed into Percocet usage.
Franzone only said, "sorry," as he turned himself in. After the hearing, Franzone's lawyer Matthew Kline said that his client's $150,000 bail was too high since his client needs treatment for drug addiction.
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