East Vandergrift man to serve up to 5 years in prison for thefts, DUI and disarming of police

An East Vandrgrift man blamed heavy drinking and “wanting to buy things to tinker around with” as the reason he drained the bank accounts of a nursing home patient last year, according to police.

John W. Ebner, 34, also stole a motorcycle and disarmed police officers trying to arrest him, police said.

Ebner was sentenced to at least 16 months in prison Tuesday after pleading guilty to charges in five cases that took place between April and September 2021.

Ebner was granted power of attorney by a man last year shortly before he entered West Haven Nursing Home in Washington Township, and, over the course of several weeks in April 2021, took more than $42,000 from several bank accounts for his personal use, investigators contended.

“I was using the money because I was drinking heavily and wanted to buy things to tinker around with,” Ebner told police.

He pleaded guilty to felony counts of theft and receiving stolen property.

Ebner admitted he stole one motorcycle and attempted to take another from homes in Vandergrift last September. Police said, as they investigated the motorcycle theft, Ebner was found passed out in a vehicle parked in Washington Township. He pleaded guilty to a drunken driving charge and other offenses in connection with that incident.

Ebner also pleaded guilty to a charge of disarming police officers during an incident at his home Sept. 17. According to court records, Ebner was uncooperative when police attempted to serve an arrest warrant, refused to be taken into custody and ultimately had to be tasered. Police said Ebner used a fireplace screen in an attempt to ward off law enforcement during the struggle.

Westmoreland County Common Pleas Judge Meagan Bilik-DeFazio imposed a series of consecutive and concurrent sentences that will require him to serve 16 months to five years in prison and an additional three years on house arrest.

Ebner also was ordered to pay more than $42,700 in restitution to his victim in the bank account theft case and $3,500 to the owner of the stolen motorcycle.

Police said the motorcycle was found under a tarp in Ebner’s garage. The bike was painted a different color and given new tags, according to court records.

A second man, Devin Michael Beer, 23, of Springdale was charged as an accomplice in connection with the motorcycle heist. He was charged with conspiracy and receiving stolen property, and, according to court records, his case is still pending.