Police: Portage man stole money, caused $11k in damage at country club

CAMBRIA COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) — A Portage man is facing felony charges after he allegedly broke into a country club’s skills machines and stole money.

Donny Watters, 30, is facing charges for allegedly causing damage to multiple skills machines and taking the money that was inside, according to a criminal complaint. On May 14, officers from the Adams Township Police Department were called to the Windber Country Club for a burglary. Police noted that the doors to the skills machines were damaged and opened. Some had cut or damaged locks and others had pieces torn off and left on the ground.

Police noted in the complaint that someone had broken into the building through one of the doors and there were pry marks and damage to the siding. Two exterior electrical boxes were cut/pried open. One of the machines, a payout machine, was also removed from the building and found by employees on the golf course.

Police noted that the machine that was taken from the building was found on a small bridge on the golf course and was the door to the machine was damaged and four drawers were removed.

A person who had knowledge of the burglary at the country club came forward to police. The person told officers that Watters was the one who broke into the club and stole the money from the skills machines. Police noted that the person who came forward was able to provide details that were not released to the public. According to the complaint, the person who came forward was also receiving threats from Watters.

Erie Insurance Company was the company that insured the Windber Country Club and said that the damage and theft totaled over $11,667.69, according to the affidavit.

Watters is in the Cambria County Prison with bail denied due to having two prior bails being revoked, according to court dockets. He is facing felony charges of criminal trespassing, burglary, theft by unlawful taking and criminal mischief.

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He has a preliminary hearing scheduled for Oct. 3.

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