Men plead innocent to burglary

Staff report

WARREN

Innocent pleas have been entered for two city men charged with one count each of aggravated burglary after police say they pretended to be interested in buying a home on Central Parkway Southeast, then assaulted the homeowner and took his car Sunday.

Ritchie L. Paden, 30, of Deforest Road is in the Trumbull County jail without eligibility to make bond, and bond of $250,000 was set for Jermaine C. Johnson, 35, of Wick Street Southeast during hearings Wednesday in Warren Municipal Court.

Police arrested the two Monday afternoon at Main Avenue and Fulton Street in connection with the burglary.

The 63-year-old home-owner told police one black male and one white male asked to see the house, which is for sale, about 6 p.m.

While in the basement, the men put the home-owner in a choke hold, which caused him to lose unconsciousness, the man said.

When he came to, he noticed his washing machine had been moved to an upstairs hallway and his car was gone.

The victim refused medical treatment.

If convicted, Paden and Johnson each could get up to 11 years in prison.