Wednesday, November 26, 2008
STAFF REPORT
YOUNGSTOWN — A city man has been sentenced to 15 months in prison for seriously wounding his brother by shooting him at their family’s home on Truesdale Avenue after a family argument in August 2007.
Robert E. Bush Jr., chief of the criminal division in the county prosecutor’s office, said charges against Anthony Peeples, 41, of Atkinson Avenue, were reduced from attempted murder and aggravated burglary because the victim of the shooting, Robert “Poke” Peeples, 45, “flat out refused” to testify, Bush said.
Likewise, other family members and other witnesses refused to cooperate with the investigation, Bush said.
Anthony Peeples appeared in the courtroom of Judge Timothy E. Franken, this week, pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and attempted discharge of a firearm, and was sentenced.
Police said Anthony Peeples broke into his family’s East Side home, shot his brother, of East Cleveland, and fled. Anthony Peeples was captured a short time later in Roosevelt Park in Campbell and has been in Mahoning County Jail since then. He will get credit for more than 14 months of time already served.
Bush would say only that a family dispute that involved the brothers and sisters led up to the shooting.
Robert Peeples, who was staying at the family’s home at the time of the shooting, suffered multiple gunshot wounds and serious injuries, police said.