A Chestnuthill Township man and his mother have been charged with operating a chop shop.

According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by trooper Ramon Torres of the Pennsylvania State Police Auto Theft Unit in the case against Jason Summers and Mary Heyboer:

A 2004 John Deere backhoe was reported stolen to PSP-Fern Ridge. The backhoe was attached to a stolen recovered 2016 Sure-Trac utility trailer recovered April 23 at the residence of Summers, 43.

A Kubota mini excavator had the manufacture PIN plate removed and police confirmed it was reported stolen to Stroud Regional Police Department on Nov. 6, 2017.

The excavator was being modified and had new parts being attached to the hydraulic arm.

The UTV was a 2015 black and blue Polaris Razor and owned by Heyboer, 67, the co-defendant and mother of Summers.

The UTV was not reported stolen but was discovered via the lien holder that the loan for the UTV was in collections due to failure of payment by Heyboer.

Shortly after the inspections, a man identified as a longtime friend of Summers told police he received a call months earlier from Heyboer asking if he could move and store the pieces of equipment and vehicle while Summers was in prison.

He obliged and transported the equipment and vehicles from Summers’ residence to his uncle’s property in Budd Lake, New Jersey.

In December 2019, multiple confidential informants told police Heyboer knew the pieces of equipment removed from her property in Chestnuthill Township were stolen, and that she had the equipment moved just before police went to her home to speak with her on April 17, 2019.

Troopers of the State Police Stroudsburg Vehicle Fraud Division believe Summers participated in a theft and chop shop organization that targeted the theft and disguise of a variety of different types of vehicles, equipment and tools. Summers also used his residence in Chestnuthill Township to store various stolen vehicles to avoid detection from law enforcement.

Summers faces charges of owning, operating or conducting a chop shop; disposition of a vehicle or vehicle part with altered vehicle identification number; theft by unlawful taking or disposition; and receiving stolen property.

Heyboer faces charges of owning, operating or conducting a chop shop; disposition of a vehicle or vehicle part with altered vehicle identification number; receiving stolen property; and tampering with or fabricating physical evidence.

Summers is currently incarcerated in state prison for a prior conviction. Heyboer is free in lieu of $10,000 unsecured bail.

Both are scheduled to have preliminary hearings Sept. 18 before District Judge Colleen Mancuso of Brodheadsville.