Three Charged In Adult Store Armed Robbery

METRO NEWS

BETHEL, PA In one week we have witnessed two victories for adult stores as three people have been captured and charged for the armed robbery that took place at a popular adult store in Bethel Township on Sept. 12.

Defendants Fred L. Baumgardner Jr., 51, was captured Friday Sept. 22 and is alleged to have been the getaway driver for two other suspects one man, one woman, who were armed during the robbery of the Midway Gift & Novelty also known as Adult World Adult Superstore located at in the 341 Midway Road on Sept. 12.

According to court documents, Baumgardner’s accomplices identified as Cody L. Koller, 24, and Samantha Y. Huntington, 19, have been charged in this case however they were not in custody as of Monday Sept. 25.

Baumgardner is under pressure to help police locate his cohords as he is facing conspiracy charges of aggravated assault, simple assault, reckless endangerment and harassment. Currently he is being held at the Berks County Prison in lieu of $5,000 bail following his arraignment that took place last Friday before District Judge Michael G. Hartman in Reading Central Court.

Hamburg state police released the following information:

“Troopers responded to Midway Gift & Novelty about 3:30 a.m. for the report of an assault. A clerk at the store told them that an unknown man had struck him several times in the head with a metal object.

The clerk said Koller and Huntington entered the store together a few minutes before the assault. He said the man attacked him, pushed him into the restroom, took items from the store and fled. It was unclear what they stole from the store.

On Sept. 18, another employee at the store identified the female suspect from the surveillance camera as Huntington.

On Sept. 22, Tulpehocken Township police received information identifying the male suspect as Koller and their getaway driver as Baumgardner.

Baumgardner was arrested after voluntarily speaking with troopers at the Hamburg barracks.

During that interview, he told troopers that Koller and Huntington were at his house Sept. 12 and asked for a ride to Route 419 in Bethel. Huntington said she wanted to break into a house to get her belongings.

Baumgardner drove them to Route 419, about a mile from Midway Gift & Novelty, and parked in a lot. Huntington and Koller left, and after about 45 minutes ran back to Baumgardner’s truck, got in and told him to drive away.

Koller told Baumgardner they had robbed the shop and hit the man behind the counter several times. Koller said there was “blood everywhere.”

Koller told Baumgardner that he had worked at the shop and knew there was always $1,500 in the safe at night.”

We will bring you updates on this case as more information is made available.

RELATED: Adult Store Robberies