Three Pa. men charged in Howland robbery

HOWLAND – Three Pennsylvania men are charged in connection with the robbery of a township homeowner who was stabbed, and had his face slashed.

Erik Splitstone, 23, of Jefferson Avenue, Sharon, Pa., is in the Trumbull County Jail in lieu of $250,000 bond on a charge of aggravated robbery. He appeared Monday before Warren Municipal Judge Terry Ivanchak, who set a preliminary hearing for Oct. 30.

Ronald Pickard Jr., 20, of Walnut Street, West Middlesex, Pa., and Justin Porterfield, 20, of Hermitage, Pa., are in the Mercer County Jail awaiting extradition. They are charged with aggravated robbery.

Township Police Chief Paul Monroe said that three men wearing ski masks forced their way Oct. 14 into the Fuller Drive home of Sergio Chavarria. They stabbed Chavarria and took a firearm, cell phone, cash and drugs. He was released after treatment at Forum Health Trumbull Memorial Hospital.

Monroe said Pickard surrendered to Sharon police and U.S. marshals Friday and Splitstone surrendered at Truck World in Hubbard Township.

Porterfield was arrested Friday at a relative’s Pennsylvania home while hiding in a closet.