Indictment alleges Niles men belonged to the ‘Savages’ gang
Staff report
WARREN
Three young Niles men are facing possibly lengthy prison terms after a Trumbull County grand jury indicted them Friday on kidnapping, felonious assault and aggravated robbery charges, plus a specification alleging they were part of a criminal gang called the Savages.
Some of the charges include specifications that the crimes were committed with a firearm.
The three are Jamaz L. Protho, 18, of Royal Mall Drive; Douglas E. McGuire, 18, of Washington Avenue; and Daniel J. Uncapher, 20, of Youll Street.
At least three juveniles also participated in the gang activity, the indictments say, but they are not identified.
The crimes were committed on Aug. 9, Sept. 8 and Sept. 15, the indictments said. Uncapher also is charged with committing a drug-possession offense Dec. 24, 2011.
A Niles police report from Dec. 24 said Uncapher was charged after police were called to Circle Street for a large fight and heard Uncapher say he needed to “get out of here before the police get here. I gotta warrant.”
Uncapher threatened officers and fought with them before officers removed pills from his hand and several more in his pants pocket. The pills were later identified as Vicodin.
Niles police could not be reached late Friday to describe the crimes committed in August or September.
In June, Niles Police Chief Rob Hinton said his department had adopted a zero-tolerance policy for juvenile offenders after several property crimes such as vandalism on private and public property.
Hinton said earlier the Niles Police Department had investigated property crimes that involved gang “tagging” [graffiti].
The gang-related charges could add eight or more years to any prison sentence imposed if they are convicted.
OTHER INDICTMENTS
Also indicted on two counts of aggravated robbery with a firearm and specification of a repeat violent offender was Timothy L. Keene Jr., 33, of Parkman Road Northwest in Warren.
The charges could carry more than 20 years in prison if he’s convicted.
Warren police said he robbed two Warren residents at 2:17 a.m. Oct. 1 as they walked home in the area of West Market Street-Tod Avenue.