Jurors seated Tuesday in home invasion case

By joe gorman

jgorman@vindy.com

youngstown

Opening statements are expected to start today in the case of a man accused of trying to force his way into a North Side home last February.

Jurors were seated in the courtroom of Judge John Durkin in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court to hear the case against 22-year-old Michael Bland, who court records show has addresses on Benita Avenue in Youngstown and Red Fox Run Northwest in Warren.

Bland faces counts of improper discharge of a firearm into a habitation, aggravated burglary and being a felon in possession of a firearm in an attack on a man at a 1344 Wick Ave. apartment on Feb. 13.

Reports said police were called to the building just after 5 p.m., where a 38-year-old man told them there was a knock on his door, and when he opened it, Bland was on the other side demanding to be let in.

Bland tried to push his way inside as the victim held the door, and when he could not get in, Bland threatened to shoot up the house, reports said. The victim told police Bland then went to a small hill and tried firing a gun that misfired and then tried again and fired two more shots.

Police found two bullet holes near the front door and also recovered two spent 9mm shell casings and a live 9mm round, reports said.

The victim told police Bland ran away on Wick Avenue but officers could not find him.

He was arrested later on a warrant.

Trumbull County Common Pleas Court records show Bland was sentenced to two years in prison in October after pleading guilty to two counts of robbery.