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Grand jury to hear cases of 3 accused in chain snatching
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Devonte Housely
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Joseph Solomon
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Arliss Casey
YOUNGSTOWN
Three men accused of felony crimes including snatching an $800 gold chain from the neck of a teenage boy will have their cases heard by a Mahoning County grand jury.
Joseph Solomon, 20, of Parkwood Avenue; Arliss Casey, 18, of Parkwood Avenue; and Devonte Housely, no age or address given, appeared Tuesday for a preliminary hearing before Judge Elizabeth Kobly of Youngstown Municipal Court.
Solomon was being held in the Mahoning County jail on a $75,000 bond for robbery. Casey is in jail on a combined bond of $225,000 for robbery, felonious assault and improper handling of a firearm. Housely is jailed on a combined $300,000 bond for robbery, felonious assault, improper handling of a firearm and shooting into a habitation.
Robbery charges against all three stem from an alleged attack and theft outside the Covelli Centre three weeks ago.
Tennille Reeder, 34, of Youngstown, said her 14-year-old son went there to watch basketball games. She said the boy wanted to dress up and left the house wearing a gold chain with a Jesus charm valued at $800.
He was outside the building after the games waiting for a ride when attacked by a group of black males that police believe included the three defendants. The boy was hit in the back of his head, and the gold chain was ripped from his neck.
Housely and Casey also face charges in a Dec. 15 incident where men shot up a South Side home and car, then ran from police.
Solomon and Housely chose to waive their right to a preliminary hearing, and Judge Kobly sent both cases to the grand jury. Bond on Housely was continued, but the court reduced the bond on Solomon from $75,000 t0 $40,000.
Casey went forward with his preliminary hearing. Prosecutors called two witnesses, including the 14-year-old. The teenager said he was surrounded after the game by four men and punched in the head. He said the chain was ripped from his neck and the group ran off as a police officer broke up the melee.
Another witness told the court he heard Casey, Housely and Solomon discussing “taking a little dude’s chain” while at a house on Parkwood Avenue the night of the robbery.
Judge Kobly sent Casey’s case to the grand jury and kept his $225,000 bond in place.
Reeder also filed a complaint with the Youngstown Police Department against the officer who broke up the fight. She said the officer did not stop the men from taking the boy’s chain.
Detective Sgt. Jose Morales said the department is investigating, but it does not appear that the officer did anything wrong. He said the off-duty officer saw what he thought was a fight and intervened. He said the officer was not informed of any theft until after the men had fled.