Guilty plea in home invasion

The victim was tied to a chair in her home and robbed of $200.

STAFF REPORT

YOUNGSTOWN — The prosecution is recommending a 13-year prison term for a 45-year-old woman who pleaded guilty in an armed invasion of an elderly woman’s home.

Derry L. Johnson, also known as Derrilyn Johnson, of Alameda Avenue, pleaded guilty to kidnapping, aggravated burglary, robbery and felonious assault with firearm and repeat violent offender specifications.

Appearing Friday before Visiting Judge Charles J. Bannon, Johnson also pleaded guilty to being a felon with a gun. She will be sentenced at 9 a.m. Oct. 30 in the county common please court.

When the 77-year-old female victim opened her South Side apartment door in response to Johnson’s knock on Sept. 14, 2007, Johnson rushed in holding a handgun, tied the victim to a chair, gagged and threatened to shoot her in the head if she screamed, and stole $200, according to Martin P. Desmond, assistant county prosecutor.

Johnson, who was an acquaintance of the victim, hit the victim on the head with either the gun or a cordless telephone while the victim was still tied up, Desmond said. The victim freed herself and received medical treatment, but wasn’t admitted to a hospital.

Earlier that day, the victim had voluntarily given Johnson money and food, Desmond said.

“It was offensive that she [Johnson] targeted an older person who couldn’t defend herself,” Desmond said. “You need hard prison time when you do something like that.”

The plea agreement came on the same day the victim was to undergo a video-deposition to preserve her testimony in the event she wouldn’t be available to testify in a trial, Desmond said.

The repeat violent offender specification refers to Johnson’s Nov. 10, 1994, aggravated burglary conviction in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.