According to court documents filed by Ashland Borough Police, Francis L. Kehler, 28, of Ashland, has been charged with one count of Receiving Stolen Property, a first-degree misdemeanor. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for July 1 before Magisterial District Judge Edward Tarantelli.
The investigation began on April 16, 2026, when a property owner contacted police after discovering a burglary at a residence he owns in Ashland.
Police said the property owner does not live at the property but serves as its caretaker. Upon entering the residence for the first time in several months, he reportedly found numerous items missing, including a water heater, copper pipe, electrical breakers, work lights, approximately $3,000 worth of rare model trains stored in the attic, lawn chairs, and antique plaster doll molds.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, police learned the thefts likely occurred during the winter months while the property was largely unoccupied.
During the investigation, officers spoke with neighbors. One neighbor told police he had previously heard movement inside the residence but did not think anything of it. Another neighbor reported seeing a white male leaving the property on several occasions in recent days.
Four days later, on April 20, the property owner returned to the police station and reported that several of his missing items appeared to be in Kehler's backyard.
Police accompanied the victim to the area of Brock Street, where they observed several items that allegedly matched property taken from the residence. Officers reported finding lawn chairs, a wicker chair matching others owned by the victim, boxes of ceramic doll molds, and one of the missing shop lights. The recovered items were valued at approximately $500.
Investigators then spoke with Kehler at his residence. According to court documents, Kehler told police he found the items in an alley and believed they had been discarded as trash. Police informed him that the items had been reported stolen.
The affidavit states that Kehler denied taking the items from the residence and was given an opportunity to provide information regarding who may have stolen them. Police allege that Kehler never followed up with investigators.
As a result of the investigation, Ashland Borough Police filed the charge of Receiving Stolen Property on May 27.