City man pleads guilty to stealing from the elderly

YOUNGSTOWN — A 37-year-old city man who stole from elderly people seven times in late December and early January by posing as a repairman or utility worker has pleaded guilty to charges that will likely land him in prison for 15 years.

Charles Zimmerman, of Hunter Street, pleaded guilty today in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court to two counts of aggravated burglary, one of kidnapping, seven counts of burglary, one count of robbery, one count of disrupting public services, and several counts of being a repeat violent offender.

The prosecutor’s office agreed to recommend a 15-year jail sentence. He will be sentenced by Judge Maureen A. Sweeney on Nov. 14. He is in the county jail.

Mike McBride, an assistant county prosecutor, said the charges stemmed from incidents in Youngstown, Struthers, and Poland, Coitsville, Beaver, Goshen and Boardman townships between Dec. 15, 2007, and Jan. 7, 2008, including Chrismas and New Year’s Day.

McBride said he took cash in most of the incidents after using some sort of deception, such as posing as a repairman or utility worker. Most of his victims were elderly, he said.

For the complete story, see Saturday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com.