Burglary trial ordered for twin and mother

Two South Philadelphia merchants testified yesterday that more than $1,500 and other valuables were taken from their adjacent shops in a burglary in which two twins and their mother are accused.

Taleon Goffney, 25, of Maple Shade, and his mother, Towana Goffney, 42, of Swedesboro, appeared before Judge Harvey Robbins at a preliminary hearing on burglary and related charges. Robbins bound them over for trial.

Taleon and his twin, Keyontili Goffney, are suspects in 45 rooftop burglaries in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware.

The crimes prompted law enforcement officers in the three states to form a task force, and the twins were arrested Feb. 19 at the two shops along Washington Avenue near Ninth Street in South Philadelphia.

The brothers gained wide attention after bloggers identified them as cast members in the gay-porn industry, where they are known as Teyon and Keyon.

The owner of the Wings & More deli at 900 Washington Ave. testified that $1,200 in cash, prepaid phone cards, and four cartons of cigarettes were stolen, and an undisclosed number of $10 bills were taken from an ATM in the burglary. The thieves gained access by smashing through the roof and ceiling.

The owner of an adjacent store, Yo Beauty Supply, testified that $400 cash was taken and that an undisclosed number of $10 bills from an ATM were also stolen in the burglary.

The twins' mother, Towana Goffney, is accused of standing watch as her sons broke into the two stores.

Two task force members also testified. Detective Edward Kunkel of the Camden Police Department said he saw Taleon Goffney leave a Center City parking garage that evening carrying a bag with a large wooden handle sticking out. He said he believed it was an ax handle.

Kunkel said that Taleon Goffney then got into a car driven by Keyontili Goffney. The car was later seen at Ninth Street and Washington Avenue, Kunkel said, and Taleon was not inside. Kunkel testified that he saw Keyontili throw an object onto a nearby roof.

Detective Mark McCullion of the Philadelphia Police Department said he found $2,300 in $10 bills on Taleon.

Taleon Goffney is in police custody, Towana Goffney is free on $7,500 bail, and Keyontili Goffney is free on $225,000 bail.