Arson, Identity Theft Charges Filed Against Bradford Man in McKean County
BRADFORD, Pa. – A Bradford resident, Chris Colts (born September 29, 1988), was arrested by the Bradford City Police Department on October 3, 2026 and charged with a series of arson‑related offenses, identity theft, and theft offenses. The case, docket number MJ-48101-CR-0000295-2026, is pending before Magisterial District Court 48‑1‑01 in McKean County.
Magisterial District Judge Richard W. Luther Jr. assigned the case on October 4, 2026. The complaint (No. 202610040213) and incident report (No. 202610040213) both list the offense date as October 3, 2026. Arresting officer Tyler J. Blair of the Bradford City Police Department made the arrest. Colts was taken to the McKean County Prison (county jail) on October 4, 2026 and was unable to post the $1,000,000.00 monetary bail set by the court.
The charges filed against Colts are extensive and include the following Pennsylvania statutes:
- § 3301 A1I – First‑degree arson – danger of death or bodily injury (F1).
- § 3301 C2 – Second‑degree arson – reckless endangerment of inhabited buildings (F2).
- § 3301 a.11ii – First‑degree aggravated arson – person present inside property (F1).
- § 3301 D1 – Third‑degree reckless burning or exploding – uninhabited or unoccupied structure placed in danger of damage (F3). (Three separate counts.)
- § 3301 D2 – Third‑degree reckless burning or exploding – property valued over $5,000 or automobile placed in danger (F3).
- § 3302 B – Third‑degree risking catastrophe (F3).
- § 2705 – Second‑degree reckless endangering another person (M2).
- § 4106 A1II – First‑degree access device issued to another who did not authorize use (M1). (Six separate counts.)
- § 4120 A – First‑degree identity theft (M1). (Six separate counts.)
- § 3921 A – Second‑degree theft by unlawful taking – movable property (M2).
All offenses are dated October 3, 2026. The docket indicates that the defendant requested a public defender, but no application for appointment was filed, and the defendant has not yet been fingerprinted.
Preliminary court proceedings are scheduled as follows: a preliminary arraignment on October 4, 2026 at 11:40 p.m., and a preliminary hearing on October 8, 2026 at 8:30 a.m., both before Magisterial District Judge David Richard Engman. The case remains active and is listed as “Awaiting Preliminary Hearing.”
The McKean County District Attorney’s Office, located at 500 West Main Street, Smethport, PA 16749 (phone 814‑887‑3312), is representing the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. No fines, costs, or restitution amounts have been entered at this time.
Chris Colts is presumed innocent until proven guilty, and the Commonwealth will continue to prosecute the charges as outlined above.
This article was generated based on publicly available court docket information. While we strive for accuracy, the content may contain errors or omissions. This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. For official court records and legal guidance, please consult the appropriate court or legal professional.