FRANKLIN, Pa. (EYT) — An Erie man faces felony theft charges in Venango County after a state police investigation linked his DNA to a vehicle stolen in 2024, leading to a subsequent confession, according to authorities.
Court documents indicate that Trooper Isaiah Unger of State Police in Franklin filed the following charges against 39-year-old Joseph M. Arciuolo on July 13, 2026:
- Theft by Unlawful Taking-Movable Property, Felony 3
- Receiving Stolen Property, Felony 3
- Theft from a Motor Vehicle, Misdemeanor 1
- Unauthorized Use of a Motor/Other Vehicle, Misdemeanor 2
According to the criminal complaint, the charges stem from an incident on July 8, 2024, in Sandycreek Township, Venango County. A resident on Robin Drive reported that her 2021 Toyota RAV4 was missing after she left the keys inside the vehicle the previous evening, the complaint states. Along with the vehicle, prescription eyeglasses, sunglasses, loose change, and dental care items valued at $569 were stolen, the complaint notes.
The Erie City Police Department recovered the stolen vehicle later that same day, the complaint indicates. State police processed the SUV for DNA and latent prints on July 10, 2024, according to the complaint. A state police laboratory report dated May 27, 2025, identified Joseph Arciuolo through a DNA match, the complaint continues…