Burglary suspect, 18, returning to court

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

A city man who pleaded not guilty to felony burglary charges will be back in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court on Tuesday.

Freeman Bankston V, 18, entered the plea earlier this week, and Magistrate Daniel Dascenzo set bond at $20,000 with a 10 percent cash surety. He remains free on bond.

Bankston is accused of stealing items valued at more than $8,000 from several Boardman homes on Terrace, Homestead and Beechwood drives in May and June. He was indicted Aug. 11.

Bankston also was indicted July 14 on a separate burglary charge, and that case is ongoing.

Last week, Bankston was indicted in federal court and charged with having a weapon under disability. Police said when Bankston was arrested on earlier burglary charges, they confiscated a sawed-off 12-gauge shotgun.

U.S. Marshals arrested Bankston on Aug. 18 on the city’s East Side on the federal charge, and he was arraigned that day and released on a $20,000 unsecured bond. Bankston’s federal jury trial is set to begin at 8 a.m. Sept. 19.