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Bond reduced for suspect
YOUNGSTOWN
A judge reduced the bond of a city man accused of shooting at a homeowner after attempting to break into the victim’s North Side home in 2010.
Andre Swanson, 33, of Montclair Avenue, appeared before Judge Maureen Sweeney of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court on Monday asking for the bond reduction. Swanson was in Mahoning County jail on a $200,000 bond for attempted aggravated burglary.
Swanson’s lawyer, Douglas King, told the court his client is diabetic, and he is fearful his medical needs are not being met in the jail. He also said there is little evidence against his client in the case.
King assured the judge that Swanson, if granted a lower bond, would appear for court hearings.
“I don’t believe my client has any history of not appearing. He does have an extensive family here. He has lived in Youngstown all his life and has kids here. He is also about to become a grandparent,” King said.
Robert Andrews, an assistant county prosecutor, told the court he is concerned about the public’s safety should Swanson be released from the jail pending his trial.
“The defendant, on two separate occasions, has been convicted of aggravated robbery and has gone to prison on those occasions,” he said.
Judge Sweeney reduced Swanson’s bond from $200,000 to $100,000 and ordered him placed on electronically monitored house arrest should he post bond.
Police say Swanson was attempting to break into a home on Woodbine Avenue in December 2010 when the homeowner spotted him and attempted to chase him away from the property. Swanson, police said, shot at the homeowner four times, but did not hit the man.
Police found Swanson hiding under the porch of a vacant house on Bryson Street.
The victim told police he and his 32-year-old girlfriend had heard loud banging at their door. He looked out and saw a man wearing a mask up to his eyes. He saw a screwdriver in his hand and believed the man was there to rob them. He went outside to confront him and chased him. The girlfriend called police.