Parole violation arrest turns up stolen gun

The gun shop had 42 firearms stolen during two break-ins.

By PATRICIA MEADE

VINDICATOR CRIME REPORTER

YOUNGSTOWN — A loaded 9 mm handgun stolen from Miller Rod & Gun in Boardman turned up inside 76 LaBelle Ave. when police went there to arrest a parole violator.

Aside from the parole violation, Anthony E. Bonner, 25, was wanted on outstanding warrants for failure to appear in municipal court on traffic charges. He faces new charges of receiving stolen property (the gun) and having a weapon while under disability, based on a previous conviction.

Members of the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force arrested Bonner on Thursday. He was arraigned Friday in municipal court. Bond was set at $32,500 and he will be back in court June 1 for a preliminary hearing.

The gun shop on Youngstown-Poland Road had 42 firearms stolen during two break-ins this month. In both events, the front door was pried open in the early morning.

The thefts are being investigated by the federal bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Special Agent Bob Miller had no comment when asked if any other firearms from Miller Road & Gun had surfaced since the thefts.

Background

Bonner was released Dec. 16, 2006, from the Belmont Correctional Institution and placed on three years’ probation to the Ohio Adult Parole Authority. The prison Web site lists him as a violator at large.

In August 2002, Bonner pleaded guilty in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court to felony receiving stolen property and he was placed on two years’ probation in December 2002 by Judge Jack Durkin. In March 2003, a new charge of aggravated arson was filed and he was held without bond pending a probation violation hearing — which didn’t take place until nine months later, records show.

Bonner admitted to violating terms of his probation at a hearing in October 2003 and his probation in the receiving stolen property case was continued. The hearing coincided with sentencing in the arson case.

He pleaded guilty to an amended charge of attempted aggravated arson and was placed on two years’ probation by Judge Durkin.

The parole authority then requested a probation violation hearing in the arson case, which took place in May 2006, records show. In June 2006, Bonner’s probation was revoked and he was sentenced to two years’ in prison on the arson conviction and given credit for 545 days spent in jail, records show.

meade@vindy.com