Storage Unit Break-In
On October 2, 2025, police were dispatched to the STP Storage Facility on Starter Drive in West Mahanoy Township after a tenant reported that her storage unit had been broken into.The victim told police she discovered the lock on her unit had been cut and that several items were missing, including a table saw, tile saw, grinder, power drill, and other tools, with an estimated value of about $400.
Investigators learned that a nearby business had security cameras facing the area. Video footage from the night of September 28, 2025, at 11:38 p.m., showed a black Nissan 300 coupe with aftermarket rims and silver exhaust caps parked near the unit. Two people were seen breaking into the storage unit, carrying items out, and leaving in the vehicle.
Police released the surveillance images to local media outlets Skook News and the Shenandoah Sentinel, requesting public help in identifying the car. Soon after, an anonymous tip identified the vehicle as belonging to Shawn Allen Jessman, of Ringtown, and provided a matching Pennsylvania registration number. Officers located the Nissan parked behind a residence on West Main Street in Ringtown and found it to be identical to the vehicle in the video.
When officers made contact with Jessman, he admitted to being at the storage facility on the night in question. He initially claimed that he mistakenly entered a unit he thought belonged to his family while looking for a sweatshirt. He stated he cut the lock after his aunt told him she no longer had the key. Jessman claimed he took a Puma bag of clothing, realized the mistake, and discarded it.
However, when police searched his Nissan with his consent, they found items that contradicted his explanation:
- A Tough Force 12-volt hand drill behind the driver’s seat.
- A camouflage backpack in the rear compartment containing another 20-volt hand drill, a pair of bolt cutters, and part of a broken padlock.
After being advised of his rights, Jessman gave a written statement admitting to cutting the lock and entering the unit but continued to deny taking tools. Police charged him with theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property, loitering and prowling at nighttime, trespassing by motor vehicle, and criminal trespass (breaking into a structure).
Traffic Stop Leads to Firearms and Drugs
The following day, October 3, 2025, Jessman was again taken into custody after a Saint Clair police officer pulled him over for failing to use a turn signal. The stop quickly escalated when the officer detected a strong odor of marijuana coming from his Nissan 370Z, which bore the same registration number linked to the storage unit break-in.During the stop, officers observed drug paraphernalia in plain view, including a syringe, baggies, and a torch. A search of the vehicle uncovered suspected methamphetamine, marijuana, and suboxone strips not prescribed to him. Police also discovered several inspection stickers and three firearms inside a backpack, one of which — a Smith & Wesson Shield 9mm — was confirmed stolen out of Mount Carmel.
Jessman admitted to purchasing the firearm from an individual known only as “Brad” in Ashland for $350. The suspected methamphetamine later tested positive during a field test.
For this incident, Jessman was charged with receiving stolen property, possession of forged inspection stickers, possession of controlled substances, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and multiple vehicle code violations.
He was arraigned by on-call Magisterial District Judge Andrew Serina and committed to Schuylkill County Prison on $50,000 straight cash bail.