According to court documents, Christopher Brown, 44, whose last known address is in Lebanon, was charged on March 18, 2026, by Pennsylvania State Police-Frackville with diversion of services, a first-degree misdemeanor, and defiant trespass, a third-degree misdemeanor.
The charges stem from an investigation that began on April 27, 2025, when troopers were dispatched to the 400 block of West New York Street in Shenandoah for a reported theft.
Police said the complainant told troopers he had lived at the address for about 22 years, but after his wife’s passing, he had been slowly moving out and spending time with his daughter in New Jersey. He told police he had last been at the property about a month earlier, in late March, and returned to take care of the property and pay the bills.
The victim reported going to the home to cut the grass when he found an extension chord plugged into his outlet and using his power that led to the home next door that had the power cut.
Troopers said the complainant had ongoing issues with trespassing at the neighboring vacant residences, which were posted by Shenandoah Borough.
State police contacted a patrolman with the Shenandoah Borough Police Department, who said he recognized the listed address. Hysock told troopers he had dealt with several trespassing complaints there about two weeks earlier and identified Brown as a man he found inside one of the vacant structures.
According to the affidavit, Brown admitted to staying inside the vacant properties.
Police also said the complainant reported that through the winter months, and since being back out of the hospital in the past year, he had noticed significantly higher electric bills despite not being at the home. His most recent power bill was reportedly $500.
Brown is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on April 16, 2026, before Magisterial District Judge Anthony Kilker in Shenandoah.