Three Philadelphia-area men are facing charges in connection with the alleged robbery of another man early Sunday morning in Patton Township.
According to a criminal complaint, Patton Township Police responded at about 1:10 a.m. to a residence on 5th Avenue where a man said another had taken money from him while displaying a handgun.
The alleged victim told police that he received a message from his friend, Namir Dubose, 19, of Philadelphia, asking to hang out as his residence. Dubose arrived with another man, later identified as Achilles A. Watson, 23, of Philadelphia, who the resident did not know.
Police said Watson picked up the resident’s wallet, took money out and said ‘I can have this, right?’ Watson allegedly displayed a handgun and the resident ran upstairs and called police. Dubose and Watson then reportedly left by vehicle.
The suspect vehicle was located traveling north on North Atherton Street near Park Avenue and officers initiated a traffic stop. Police said it was registered to and driven by Tony J. Fairfax, 20, of Yeadon, and that two other male passengers were inside. One was reportedly identified by his driver’s license as Dubose and the other claimed his name was James Thomas. The latter had no identification and no record could be found for the name and date of birth provided, police said.
The alleged victim was brought to the location and positively identified Dubose. He also positively identified the other passenger as the man who displayed a gun and took his money, police said. He later called police and said he found a wallet in his living room that had not been there prior to the alleged robbery. The state identification card inside had the name Achilles A. Watson and the photo was of the suspect who had told police his name was James Thomas, according to the complaint.
Fairfax, the driver, allegedly admitted his involvement to police. He said he drove the three of them to State College from the Philadelphia area and that Dubose had messaged ‘someone Fairfax knew could score them drugs,’ according to the complaint. They didn’t have any money to get drugs so they drove to the residence with the intention of stealing the resident’s drugs or money, he allegedly told police.
According to the complaint, Dubose and Watson went inside while Fairfax waited in the car. The two men allegedly came running out of the house, got in the vehicle and told Fairfax to flee the area. Fairfax said when they were stopped they had been returning to the residence because Watson had dropped his wallet there, police said. He also allegedly said he knew one of the other men had a handgun but did not know which one.
Dubose refused to answer questions after being provided Miranda warnings, police said. Fairfax continued to give his name as James Thomas and when shown the ID card found in the residence claimed it wasn’t him and that he didn’t know the person on the ID, according to the complaint.
All three men were arraigned on Monday before District Judge Casey McClain.
Watson is charged with felony counts of robbery and conspiracy and misdemeanor counts of theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property and conspiracy. He was unable to post $50,000 straight monetary bail and was placed in the Centre County Correctional Facility
Dubose and Fairfax are both charged with felony counts of robbery and conspiracy and misdemeanor counts of theft by unlawful taking and conspiracy. Bail was set at $25,000 for Dubose and 10 percent of $20,000 for Fairfax. Both were unable to post and were placed in county jail.
Preliminary hearings are scheduled for Feb. 7.
