RS Man Accused of Stealing Thousands from Skills Machines

A Roaring Spring man is facing charges in Bedford County for conspiring with three other people to steal thousands of dollars from Pennsylvania skills machines at a Queen business.

Zacheriah J. Hammel, 23, was arraigned by Bedford Magisterial District Judge Kevin R. Diehl on felony counts of theft unlawful taking and conspiracy as well as misdemeanor counts of corruption of minors and criminal mischief for his alleged role in breaking into the machines at Wright Milling Co. on two separate days in December 2021.

According to Bedford State Police, on Dec. 3, 2021, Wright Milling reported that on Dec. 1, 2021, someone pried open a skills machine and stole $7,500. After the theft, the owner of the business installed security cameras. Police said that during the overnight hours of Dec. 3, 2021, the machines were again broken into and $2,310 was stolen. Police said a review of the security cameras showed an African American male reaching into one of the machines.

During its investigation, police identified the male as Keshaun Randolph, 20, of Altoona, and determined that Hammel and a male minor had also participated in the theft. Further video allegedly showed the three men attempting to break into another machine.

Police said they interviewed Randolph at the Blair County Prison and that he told them that Hammel, the minor, and a female who he identified as Jhimenna Torres, 20, of Altoona, had previously “hit a lick” at Wright Milling and had made off with “a couple stacks,” meaning money.

Randolph allegedly told police that Hammel got him involved in the theft and that on Dec. 3, he, Hammel, and the minor entered Wright Milling while Torres remained outside in the vehicle. Randolph allegedly told police that Hammel pried open the skills machine using a metal tool and that they had stolen $2,000 and divided it up between them. When shown photos of the theft from the video tape, police said Randolph identified himself, Hammel, and the minor.

When asked about the Dec. 1 theft Randolph allegedly told police that he had no part in it, but that Hammel and the minor had perpetrated it as well as other thefts in the area.

Police interviewed Hammel on Oct. 20, 2022, and told him that Randolph had told them of his involvement in the thefts from Wright Milling. Police said that Hammel initially denied any involvement but that he had brought Randolph and the minor there to gamble. When shown photographs of the theft, police said Hammel admitted to being at Wright Milling at the time.

Police said that Hammel told them that he “didn’t want to be a snitch,” but that Randolph and the minor “definitely planned” the theft and that the theft was “definitely why we went down there at two in the morning.”

Hammel was arraigned on Aug. 23 and placed in the Bedford County Jail on $10,000 bail. Online records indicate Hammel made bail later that day. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Oct. 11 at Bedford County Central Court.