STROUDSBURG, PA – A Blakeslee man charged with receiving stolen all-terrain vehicles is scheduled to appear in Monroe County Court in early 2026, according to updated court records.

David J. Frantz Jr., 43, is set to appear before Judge Stephen M. Higgins on January 2, 2026, at 12:30 p.m. for a call/guilty plea/ARD hearing in the case that originated from a May 2025 incident.

Case Information:

• Defendant: David J. Frantz Jr., 43, of Blakeslee, PA
• Charges: Two counts of Receiving Stolen Property (F3, 18 § 3925 §§ A)
• Offense Date: May 7, 2025
• Next Court Appearance: January 2, 2026, at 12:30 p.m.
• Judge: Honorable Stephen M. Higgins
• Defense Attorney: Martin Emilio Souto-Diaz, Monroe County Public Defender’s Office
• Prosecutor: Elizabeth J. Anderson, Assistant District Attorney

Case Background

Frantz was arraigned in June 2025 by Magisterial District Judge Richard P. White on two counts of receiving stolen property, both third-degree felonies. The charges stem from an investigation by Detective Emmanuel Varkanis of the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office.

According to the criminal complaint, the case began when Pocono Mountain Regional Police Officers responded to an ATV crash at 233 Blossom Lane in May 2025. Witnesses directed officers to 194 Candle Drive, where they located Frantz, who had been injured in the crash. During the encounter, Frantz allegedly attempted to discard a bag of suspected methamphetamine and was taken into custody.

Stolen Vehicles Recovered

Further investigation revealed that Frantz had been storing two stolen ATVs at his Blakeslee residence:

First ATV: A Yamaha Kodiak that had been repainted was confirmed stolen from a residence on Mailbox Road in Mount Pocono in late 2024. This same vehicle had also been used in a burglary in the Mount Pocono area.

Second ATV: A 2005 Honda Rincon was later identified as stolen from a resident in Jackson Township, Pennsylvania.

When interviewed, Frantz admitted to purchasing one of the ATVs under suspicious circumstances and possessing the second ATV on the property.

Current Case Status

The case has progressed through the preliminary stages of the judicial process:

• Docket Number: CP-45-CR-0001173-2025
• Original MDJ Docket: MJ-43404-CR-0000104-2025
• Incident Number: 2025M0243
• OTN: I 1012978-1

Frantz has been represented by public defender Martin Emilio Souto-Diaz throughout the proceedings. The Commonwealth is being represented by Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth J. Anderson and the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office.

A formal arraignment originally scheduled for September 2, 2025, was cancelled after Frantz’s attorney filed a waiver of appearance at arraignment on August 25, 2025.

Bail and Custody

Frantz’s bail was initially set at $5,000 on June 27, 2025, by Magisterial District Judge White. On July 8, 2025, the bail was increased to $5,500. Professional surety Christopher Todd Gorman partially posted $5,000 in surety bonds on June 30, 2025.

According to court records, Frantz has been held at the Monroe County Correctional Facility since July 4, 2025. He was reportedly already incarcerated on unrelated charges at the time of this case and is under active probation until 2027.

Legal Proceedings

The information was formally filed by District Attorney Michael Mancuso on August 21, 2025. Judge Higgins placed the case on the final call/trial term on August 26, 2025, after the arraignment was held or waived.

The case is currently in “Active” status and awaiting the pre-trial conference scheduled for early January 2026.

About the Charges

Receiving stolen property in Pennsylvania is classified as a third-degree felony when the value of the property received, retained, or disposed of is $2,000 or more. Frantz faces two separate counts of this charge in connection with the two stolen ATVs.

For more information about this case, contact Detective Emmanuel Varkanis at 570-517-3063 or email at Evarkanis@monroecountypa.gov.

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All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. These charges represent accusations of a crime and do not constitute a determination of guilty.