Accused in home invasion, man is video arraigned

YOUNGSTOWN — Charles L. Zimmerman, accused in the home invasion of an 84-year-old Shady Run Road man, was video arraigned Wednesday in municipal court and bond was set at $1.5 million on charges of kidnapping, aggravated burglary and aggravated robbery.

Zimmerman, 36, of Hunter Street also was given a 30-day jail sentence for contempt of court. He will be back in court Jan. 17 for a preliminary hearing.

The victim told police that he heard a sound at his back door at 5:20 p.m. Monday and then a man pushed his way inside. The victim was punched and had his wallet taken. He was taken to a hospital for possible internal injuries.

Zimmerman was caught Tuesday evening in Campbell after a manhunt that began on the East Side. Court records show Zimmerman’s criminal history includes burglary.

He is wanted on multiple warrants from the city, Poland Township, Struthers and Coitsville for various charges.

Capt. Kenneth Centorame, chief of detectives, said the elderly man is doing OK and is a good witness. Centorame said Detective Sgt. Ramon Cox did a good job of putting the case together.

Poland Township police also have charged Zimmerman in connection with deceiving an elderly township woman New Year’s Day.

Last Tuesday, an 86-year-old township woman reported a man came to her home offering to make home repairs.

She let him in and after he left, she found her drawers rifled through and her purse missing. The woman wasn’t injured.

Township police charged Zimmerman with burglary and theft by deception in that case.

In 2004, Zimmerman was charged with theft, accused of bilking an 88-year-old Boardman woman out of about $7,000 for home repairs that either weren’t done or were done poorly, Vindicator files show.

In 2005, he pleaded guilty and was convicted of theft and sentenced to three years behind bars and given credit for time served.