Pocono News Section

Alleged Baseball Card Bandit in Court

Alleged Baseball Card Bandit in Court - Monday, June 2, 2008 at 5:57PM EST

Reported by: Jeremy Deebel
Monday, Jun 2, 2008 @ 05:57pm EST
Montoursville, Lycoming County-

David Baney of Williamsport was in court today. He is accused of brutally beating the owner of a baseball card shop, then robbing him of $50,000 dollars worth of merchandise.

Testimony got heated at times as Ron Aderhold, owner of the Montour Baseball Card Shop, took the stand and recounted the night of the attack. He says the violent encounter has changed his life forever.

As Baney left court, he professed his innocence, saying the robbery and assault charges he faces are false.

Police say he clubbed Ron Aderhold with a crowbar before stealing thousands of dollars worth of vintage cards from the Montour Baseball Card Shop.

Aderhold says his life has changed since that day nearly three months ago. "I was hit on the head with a crowbar. I say I'm lucky to be alive and I'm really scared right now," Aderhold explained.

The shop owner needed three staples to close the gash in his head. He says it's a nightmare he re-lives every day. Aderhold said, "I see him here in my house. I see right where it happened. It all comes back to me constantly."

The card shop is basically an extension of Ronald and his wife Elizabeth's home. They have two grandchildren, so they've stepped up security in the wake of the robbery. "I'm being very careful who I let in the house, and who I let in my shop, because of all this. Reality has set in of the things that can happen in life."

Aderhold says the person who robbed and assaulted him entered the shop and chatted with him just like any other customer would. He warns other business owners to be wary. "I had a sense of security, and you know what, I don't have that sense anymore. And maybe they better be careful too, because it could happen just as easily as it happened to me."

Ron Aderhold identified David Baney out of a photo lineup. Baney’s fingerprints were also found on some of the cards at the shop, according to police.

As for Baney, District Judge Kenneth Schriner bound all charges against him over to trial. He will next be in court on July 7th.