5 given probation in break-in, assault

The five all were charged with misdemeanor offenses.
MERCER, Pa. -- A Mercer County Common Pleas Court judge placed five people on probation for their part in a custody dispute that led to a 2004 break-in at a Hermitage residence and the seizing of two small children.
Judge John Reed sentenced Amanda Ferguson, 26, of Bolivar, Ohio, Jason Longgood, 27, of Akron, Jason Martin, 31, of Bolivar, Susan Martin 51, of North Canton, Ohio, and Paul Reiners, 53, of Canton, Ohio, all to two years' probation.
In addition, the judge ordered Ferguson and Reiners to make restitution and fined Reiners $3,000.
Court documents say that on Dec. 14, 2004, the five went to a Donald Drive residence in Hermitage and seized two children -- a 4-year-old and a 2-year-old -- from their lawful custodian.
Some fighting ensued, with Reiners knocking a man in the residence to the floor and threatening to break his neck with a bar stool if he moved.
Ferguson grabbed a woman who was trying to call police and pulled her hair. Longgood and Jason Martin struck another man inside the home, while Susan Martin assaulted two men, causing them minor injuries.
Information was unavailable late last week on why the five wanted to remove the children.
Charges
Reiners was charged with simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and criminal trespass; Susan Martin, Jason Martin and Jason Longgood were charged with recklessly endangering another person and criminal conspiracy/simple assault; and Ferguson was charged with criminal conspiracy/simple assault and criminal trespass. All the counts are misdemeanors.
Court documents did not indicate if the Martins were related.
Other cases
These court cases also were handled last week:
UNeal Lennon, 20, of West Market Street, Mercer, placed on three years' probation for possession with intent to deliver, a felony. He sold less than 2 grams of marijuana on two occasions to a confidential informant in Mercer.
UHeather Connolly, 34, of Pittsburgh, sentenced to six to 12 months in jail for retail theft. On Dec. 5, 2004, she stole four suede coats worth $1,020 from the London Fog Outlet at Prime Outlets, 1911 Leesburg-Grove City Road, Springfield Township.