Man gets 12 years for break-ins, other crimes

By Peter H. Milliken

YOUNGSTOWN — A 22-year-old man has been sentenced to a total of 12 years in prison for two gun shop break-ins and for unrelated aggravated robbery, breaking and entering and cocaine possession charges.

Matthew A. Clingerman, formerly of Steel Street, drew the sentence Thursday from Judge John M. Durkin of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.

Clingerman pleaded guilty to two counts each of breaking and entering and gun theft stemming from 4 a.m. break-ins on May 14 and 20, 2007, at Miller Rod and Gun, a federally licensed gun shop at 5140 Youngstown-Poland Road, Boardman.

In the plea agreement, the prosecution dropped 39 other gun theft counts, one for each gun, which was reported stolen in the two gun shop break-ins.

Almost all of the stolen guns have not been recovered and are believed to still be on the streets, said Michael J. McBride, assistant county prosecutor.

“The seriousness of the offense was the fact that these guns are out and around. Who knows what they’re being used for?” McBride said. The prosecutor added that he is concerned that the unaccounted-for guns provide “an ability for people to gain guns on the black market and use them to commit other crimes.”

The aggravated robbery and breaking and entering charges stem from a June 3, 2007, confrontation between Clingerman and Officer John Fields, a city policeman, who responded to a 1:45 a.m. burglar alarm and found Clingerman inside the Check and Go Mart, 1739 Wilson Ave.

During the foot pursuit that followed, Clingerman threw a police scanner, allegedly taken from the store, at Fields, hitting him in the groin, before Fields pepper-sprayed and apprehended Clingerman at Cherry and Center streets, police said.

During the struggle that ensued before Fields and four other officers secured him, Clingerman wielded a hammer and tried unsuccessfully to unstrap Fields’ gun, hence the aggravated robbery charge.

Clingerman pleaded guilty to the aggravated robbery and breaking and entering charges, and the prosecution dropped a charge of assault on an officer.

He also pleaded guilty to a separate, unrelated cocaine possession charge, also dating back to 2007.