2 of 3 held in home burglary get plea deal

The occupant came home and foiled the burglary, police said.

YOUNGSTOWN — Two suspects have pleaded guilty in a Canfield home burglary and in a New Middletown restaurant break-in, but a third suspect, who is charged only in the home burglary, is scheduled to go on trial Monday.

John Douglas, 35, of Youngstown, pleaded guilty Thursday to breaking and entering and theft of more than $500 New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day at the DeChellis Restaurant in New Middletown, burglary of Darlene DeChellis’ Bradford Drive home in Canfield on Jan. 30 and possessing criminal tools, namely a cell phone, in the home burglary.

The prosecution agreed to recommend a three-year prison term under the plea agreement. The prosecution also agreed to recommend earlier judicial release if his cooperation with authorities results in the successful prosecution of his sister-in-law, Joanne Douglas, 39, of Youngstown, in an unrelated case.

Also pleading guilty Thursday before Judge R. Scott Krichbaum of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court was Richard Cummings, 35, of Lynn Avenue. Cummings pleaded guilty to the restaurant break-in and to a reduced-level burglary charge in the home break-in, with the charge of possessing criminal tools dropped.

The prosecution agreed to recommend probation for Cummings in exchange for his cooperation in the prosecution of his co-defendants.

Cummings is to be sentenced at 9 a.m. and John Douglas at 9:30 a.m., both on June 12.

Joanne Douglas is to go on trial before Judge Krichbaum on the original home burglary charge.

Police said DeChellis came home unexpectedly Jan. 30, surprised John Douglas inside and chased him to his getaway car, in which Cummings waited behind the wheel.

Joanne Douglas, who was DeChellis’ cleaning woman and knew DeChellis’ routines, helped Cummings and John Douglas plan the burglary, police said.