4 plead innocent in 5 break-ins

Ten firearms were taken from one of the homes, police said.

STAFF report

WARREN — Three men and a woman have pleaded innocent to a variety of charges relating to five break-ins in Lordstown between Aug. 5 and Sept. 7.

The four were arrested Friday morning and arraigned later in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court on the felony charges. A county grand jury secretly had returned an indictment against them.

Charged were Christopher M. Wilcher, 30, of Pershing Avenue Southwest, Warren, and his girlfriend, Shannon Wallace, 36, of the same address; Brett L. Hemberger, 27, of Eagle Creek Road, Warren Township; and David Nichols, 28, of King’s Drive, Newton Township.

Detective Chris Bordonaro of the Lordstown Police Department said the crimes involved guns and tools, especially tools used for working on cars. The items were taken from three homes and two unattached garages in the southwest part of the village and one in the northern part.

Ten firearms were taken from one of the homes, Bordonaro said. The three men are all related to one another, he added.

Wilcher faces the most charges — 10. They are two counts of burglary with specifications that he used a firearm; three counts of breaking and entering, two with firearm specifications; two counts of grand theft; and single counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, receiving stolen property and tampering with evidence. Judge Peter Kontos set bond at $25,000.

Hemberger faces two counts of breaking and entering with firearm specifications, two counts of grand theft and two counts of burglary. His bond is $15,000.

Nichols faces two counts of burglary with firearm specifications, one of breaking and entering with firearm specifications, and one of grand theft. His bond is $15,000.

Wallace is not charged with any of the break-ins, but she faces charges of receiving stolen property and forgery. Her bond is $2,500.

The break-ins occurred on Rustic Run, Salt Springs Road, Palmyra Road and two addresses on Highland Avenue, the indictments say.

Police conducted a two-month investigation and were assisted by Warren Township police, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation Crime Scene Unit, Ohio Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Mahoning County Dive Team and the U.S. Marshals Service.