West Newton man accused of burglary while on probation

A West Newton man who was on probation was back in jail Tuesday after being accused of breaking into a Sewickley Township beverage shop.

State police charged Malcom J. Long, 24, with burglary, theft, criminal trespass and criminal mischief. Long is accused of breaking into Seifert Beverage on West Newton Road on April 18. He was being held in Westmoreland County Prison on $60,000 bail.

Long’s girlfriend, Ashley L. Biagini, 26, of West Newton, also is accused in the burglary. She was arrested Saturday and was in the county jail on $1,000 bail, according to court dockets.

State police say they responded to the beverage shop about midnight April 18 for a report of a burglary. A nearby resident reported seeing Long and Biagini fleeing through a broken window, police said.

Long and Biagini allegedly stole more than $600 worth of lottery tickets and Mountain Dew bottles and caused $400 worth of damage to the window. Long used to work at the store, police said.

In May, Long was sentenced to a one-year term in the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program in connection with a March incident in which he led West Newton police on a chase that ended when he crashed into his former Elizabeth Township home.

Traffic charges were dismissed in that case, but Long still faced counts of fleeing and eluding police. Those charges might have been expunged had Long completed the ARD program — a probationary program for first-time, nonviolent offenders — without incident.

Long faces a July 1 preliminary hearing in connection with the burglary charges. Long’s attorney, Dennis Spyra of White Oak, could not be reached for comment.