Plea results in two-year sentence

Two men used pellet guns in the robbery, an assistant prosecutor said.

By ED RUNYAN

VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF

WARREN — One of four people charged with aggravated robbery and aggravated burglary in a home invasion on Wilson Avenue in Liberty Township was sentenced to two years in prison for his role in the crime.

Greg S. Latronica, 19, of 5160 Belmont Avenue, Liberty, pleaded guilty Wednesday to robbery and burglary and was sentenced in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court by Judge W. Wyatt McKay.

Latronica agreed to plead guilty to reduced charges in a plea agreement.

Chris Becker, an assistant county prosecutor, said he recommended two years in prison because Latronica confessed and had no previous criminal record. The penalty for robbery and burglary, both second degree felonies, is up to 16 years in prison.

Police arrested Latronica at his home Oct. 28, 2007, shortly after the break-in at the nearby Wilson Avenue residence.

Police said a Wilson Avenue couple woke up at 5 a.m. when two men wearing masks kicked open their bedroom door, pointed guns at them and asked for money. The intruders took a necklace and $1,100 from a jewelry box and fled. Becker said Latronica was one of the two masked men.

Officers checked the area and located Tera Watters, 18, of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Youngstown, and Jonathan Watters, 19, of Weathersfield Township, sitting in a car in Latronica’s driveway. Inside the vehicle were opened packages for BB guns and BB gun pellets.

Police first arrested Tera Watters and Jonathan Watters. After questioning the Watterses and occupants of the Belmont Avenue home, police also arrested Latronica, who lived there. Police later charged Randy Estep, 18, who also lived at the Belmont Avenue home with Latronica.

Becker said Latronica and Estep used pellet guns in the robbery, which is why there were no gun specification charges brought against any of the defendants. Gun specifications can add three years to a sentence, he said.

As part of his sentence, Latronica was ordered to pay restitution to the victims for the $1,100 that was stolen. Becker said he doesn’t know where the restitution money will come from, but it could be obtained by attaching Latronica’s wages. Judge McKay ordered that the money come from Latronica or any of the other defendants.

Liberty Police Capt. Richard Tisone said police believe Tera Watters enlisted the help of friends to rob her aunt, who is one of the victims. He said police have evidence the pellet guns used in the robbery were bought a short time before the robbery for that purpose.

Criminal cases against the three other defendants are pending.

runyan@vindy.com