Philadelphia- His lawyer called it a crime of stupidity.
Police agreed.
And now Sean D. Guentter, 23, faces prosecution in Montgomery County Court for stealing sex toys and the like during a burglary of a pornography store on Route 309 in Montgomery Township.
The Hatfield man, who waived a preliminary hearing Thursday in Montgomeryville district court, was arrested just minutes after the Aug. 8 heist at Adult World because he ran a red light at the Five Points intersection of routes 202 and 309.
“This was a crime of stupidity,” said Guentter’s attorney, Patrick J. McMenamin Jr., who added that alcohol fueled his client’s actions. “He realizes he made a real bad mistake and is accepting responsibility.”
Guentter’s blood alcohol level was .195, more than twice the legal limit allowed when driving, which is .08, said police. Nonetheless, authorities do not plan to charge Guentter with DUI, saying the felony burglary is a substantial enough offense.
Police said Thursday Guentter attempted to steal $1,175 in Adult World items. Merchandise included sex toys, body lotion and pornographic movies.
“It was a dumb mistake,” said Montgomery Township Detective Ed Davies.
Guentter, whose mother came to court to support him, is free on bail.
McMenamin said his client will stay away from drugs and alcohol and is seeking outpatient treatment for substance abuse. He’s also looking for a job, said McMenamin, because he lost his after news of the arrest made the rounds.
“He’s paid a high price for his actions,” said McMenamin, who indicated Guentter could potentially be sentenced to probation instead of jail time.
A criminal complaint said Adult World was closed when, around 2:20 a.m., Guentter used a 34-inch crowbar to smash a glass door and enter the store.
Guentter’s face was unconcealed and his clothing clearly visible to security cameras as he piled items into a black trash bag. When police arrived later, they found products scattered about the store and in the gravel parking lot.
Less than a mile from Adult World, Guentter turned onto Route 309 through a red light and was stopped by a township officer. She saw DVDs, sex toys, a crow bar and a large plastic trash bag containing adult items in the Hatfield man’s truck.
Remembering a similar burglary at Adult World days earlier, the officer called in back up to investigate at the store. They found what Guentter had been up to.
Police said Guentter failed field sobriety tests.
Police are still trying to identify the man who stole a blow-up doll and hundreds of dollars in DVDs from Adult World in July. Like Guentter, the burglar smashed out a rear glass door to enter the store around 4:10 a.m., police said.