YOUNGSTOWN Repeat offender faces new charge

The judge disregarded the prosecutor's request for no bond.
By PATRICIA MEADE
VINDICATOR CRIME REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- The day after Raymond Pankey, a felon convicted three times, received probation for criminal trespass and posted $191 bond to get out of jail on a felony vandalism charge, police arrested him again.
Pankey, 47, of Poplar Street, was arraigned Thursday in municipal court on the new charge of theft.
Bassil Ally, an assistant city prosecutor, made an impassioned request of Judge Robert P. Milich. "If ever a defendant was not worthy of bond, this would be the one," Ally said in court.
Ally explained to the judge that Pankey has been convicted countless times of breaking and entering, among other things, and was just in court two days ago. If a bond were to be set, the prosecutor requested a $50,000 cash or surety bond and electronically monitored house arrest should the bond be posted.
State prison records show Pankey has been incarcerated three times over the past 19 years on breaking and entering, robbery and sexual battery convictions. He also has several misdemeanor convictions.
He was released from prison April 12.
Judge Milich disregarded Ally's request, however, and set bond at $50,000, allowing 10 percent to be paid. The judge made no mention of house arrest should the bond be posted.
Earlier this week
On Tuesday, Pankey pleaded no contest in Judge Milich's court to two counts of criminal trespass that took place two weeks ago on the North Side. The judge found him guilty, sentenced Pankey to 30 days in jail, suspended 21, gave him credit for nine days served, fined him $80 and placed him on one year's probation.
That same day, across the hall in Judge Robert A. Douglas Jr.'s court, Pankey had his felony vandalism case bound over to a Mahoning County grand jury. At arraignment July 29, the judge had set Pankey's bond at $1,500, allowing 10 percent to be posted, on the felony charge.
Anthony J. Farris, chief assistant city prosecutor, said Thursday that he didn't ask for a bond because the judge had set $5,000 cash or surety bond July 28 on the two related criminal trespass charges.
A woman posted the $191 felony bond on Tuesday and Pankey was released from jail, the clerk's office said. She had to post $150, 10 percent of the $1,500 bond, and a felony state fee of $41.
Arrested
At 10:15 a.m. Wednesday, the owner of Kozak Antique Shop, 1328 Elm St., reported to police that he saw a man leave the rear yard of the store carrying a bag and walking west on Broadway. The suspect's description included red leather pants.
About 15 minutes later, police spotted Pankey, in red pants, in the 200 block of Broadway. The officers arrested Pankey on a theft charge and confiscated the bag, which contained two door knobs and 10 cast-iron bathtub legs, which they then turned over to the antique-shop owner.
Detective Sgt. Mike Kawa, who investigated the theft, said another charge could be filed against Pankey today, based on a complaint from Petra Food Mart, 1354 Elm. A police report shows that Pankey and another man were seen leaving the store with its downspouts.
meade@vindy.com