Grand jury adds charges for suspect in home invasion

A city man faces multiple felony charges in a Boardman standoff from August.

By PETER H. MILLIKEN

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

YOUNGSTOWN — The Mahoning County grand jury has issued a superseding indictment against a man charged with a June 11 home invasion on Belden Avenue.

The superseding indictment adds a second aggravated robbery count against Derrick J. Harmon, names the victims in each of the two robbery counts and adds repeat violent offender specifications to all counts. If Harmon is convicted of any of the repeat violent offender specifications, one to 10 years would be added to any prison sentence he receives, said Martin P. Desmond, assistant county prosecutor.

Harmon, 28, of Eastway Drive, also known as Derrick Harman, was initially indicted on aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, and felonious assault charges, and two counts of kidnapping with firearm and body armor specifications to all counts.

Galen Hobdy, 13, of Akron, was visiting the Belden Avenue home of his father, Forrest Adams, when a masked gunman wearing a bulletproof vest forced his way in. The ordeal left Adams with knife wounds to his left hand and upper arm. The gaping wounds came from a kitchen knife the intruder snatched after dropping his gun. Adams cut the intruder with a decorative ax and Hobdy shot the intruder, according to police reports. Harmon, who gave another man’s name in the hospital, was charged with the home invasion.

Also Thursday, the grand jury indicted Joseph Hardy, 25, of West Glenaven Avenue, on eight counts of receiving stolen property, two counts of aggravated burglary and one count each of kidnapping and burglary. The charges stem from Aug. 17 and 18, an early morning standoff with police at a Tippecanoe Road residence in Boardman. Police, who forced their way in, said they found Hardy hiding in an upstairs bedroom.

Other indictments

Also indicted:

UNicholas J. Boerio, 27, of Cook Avenue, Boardman, two counts of aggravated robbery with firearm specifications, misuse of a credit card, receiving stolen property, heroin possession, escape, six counts of burglary and three counts of theft.

UDarnell Coffer, 27, of Brooklyn Avenue, failure to comply with a police order, being a felon with a gun, improperly handling a firearm in a motor vehicle and vehicular assault.

URenee J. Hightower, 21, of Roxbury Avenue, aggravated assault.

URonald E. Bell Jr., 37, of West LaClede Avenue, heroin possession with a forfeiture specification.

UCasandra Thurston, 54, of Hunter Avenue, cocaine possession.

UReginald L. Sanders Jr., 25, of Fithian Avenue, theft.

UCurtis Gowdy, 37, of West LaClede Avenue, forgery and criminal simulation.

UChauncey A. Dorhard, also known as Chauncey Dothard, 38, of Hillman Street, cocaine trafficking with a forfeiture specification.

URichard D. McCoy, 53, of South Sawburg Road, Alliance, driving under the influence of alcohol.

UBenjamin W. Loucks, 26, of Pen Oaks Drive, New Castle, Pa., breaking and entering and possessing criminal tools.

URichard W. Cobb, 43, of Ashland Avenue, Alliance, theft and breaking and entering.

UDavid Tribble, 45, of Stewart Avenue, failure to comply with a police order.

UCharles M. Butler, 33, of Falls Avenue, cocaine possession.

URobert T. Burnett, 30, of Helena Avenue, cocaine possession.

ULisa A. Gilbo, 38, of Mahoning County jail, cocaine possession.

UDaniel Hapsic, 43, of Depot Street, Mineral Ridge, cocaine possession.

UElecta A. Johnson, 47, of Whitman Lane, cocaine possession.

USamuel Washington Jr., 54, of East Philadelphia Avenue, cocaine possession.

UJames Jordan, 26, of Cohasset Drive, improperly handling a firearm in a motor vehicle and receiving stolen property.

UClifford J. Smith Jr., 19, of Tippecanoe Road, Canfield, theft.

UAdrien S. Brown, 29, of Rush Boulevard, cocaine possession with a forfeiture specification.