Four people were charged with felony criminal trespass and a fifth person was taken into custody on an outstanding fugitive warrant Friday morning after authorities searched two condemned commercial buildings in Minersville, according to Police Chief Jeffrey Bowers.
Police Search Condemned Minersville Property
The search was conducted around 8 a.m. Friday, September 18, 2026, at 510 North Second Street. The property contains two buildings identified in court paperwork as the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church.
Minersville Police were assisted at the scene by deputies from the Schuylkill County Sheriff’s Department. Police served a search warrant obtained one day earlier from Magisterial District Judge Edward Tarantelli in connection with alleged violations of Minersville Borough codes.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, borough code enforcement received information on September 2 that several people were allegedly living inside the two commercial buildings. The structures were not approved for use as residential dwelling units, the affidavit states.
The court filing also states that neither building had active water or electrical service. Water service reportedly became inactive on January 8, 2020, prompting officials to post the buildings as condemned. According to police, the condemnation notices were removed and reposted several times, with the latest posting occurring on June 23, 2025.
Five People Found Inside School Building
Police first searched the church building but found no one inside, according to the affidavit. Officers then entered the school building, where they contacted Joseph William Sanchez Jr. Sanchez allegedly told police that other people were sleeping on the second floor and acknowledged that he had slept inside the building the previous night.
Officers reported finding four additional people in two second-floor rooms that had mattresses and box springs set up for overnight accommodations. Police identified them as Lance Rolland Haluska and Stacey Hutsko in one room, and Kevin Wenner and Tiara Kelly in another.
The affidavit alleges that officers found buckets containing human waste throughout the building, along with buckets of rainwater collected from modified rain gutters. Police alleged that the five people had been living or staying overnight inside the property for several months while attempting to avoid detection.
Four Face Felony Trespass Charges
Hutsko, 52, of Minersville; Wenner, 45, of Minersville; Haluska, 55, of Minersville; and Sanchez, 24, of Pottsville, were each charged with one third-degree felony count of criminal trespass for allegedly entering or remaining inside the structure.
Bowers said Kelly, 39, who was described as homeless, was wanted by the Schuylkill County Detectives on a fugitive warrant related to drug violations. She was taken into custody and transported to Schuylkill County Prison.
Bail and Preliminary Hearings
The four criminal trespass defendants were arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Lengel, who set bail at $5,000 cash for each defendant. All four were lodged in Schuylkill County Prison pending preliminary hearings before Magisterial District Judge Lewis.
Criminal charges are allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Photos Provided by Minersville Police
Photos provided by Minersville Police.