Trial underway in North Side home invasion case

January 16, 2014 at 12:00a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

An assistant prosecutor told jurors in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday that a North Side man whose home was shot at last February was targeted for a variety of reasons.

Meghan Brundege told jurors during opening statements in the courtroom of Judge John Durkin that Michael Bland, 22, was after Charles Pinson because Pinson worked and had money and nice things and also cannot read or write.

She said his North Side neighborhood that has a drug and crime problem made Pinson ripe for someone to rob him.

“People see that he’s going to work and he’s making money and he’s buying nice things,” Brundege said. “He’s a target in his home.”

Jurors were seated in the case Tuesday and heard testimony for most of the day. The state rested its case late Wednesday afternoon and closing arguments are expected today after the defense closes its case.

Bland is on trial on charges of attempted aggravated burglary, discharging a firearm into a habitation and being a felon in possession of a firearm after police said he tried to force his way into Pinson’s home in the 1300 block of Wick Avenue on Feb. 13.

Pinson had told police that Bland had knocked on his door and demanded to be let inside, and when Pinson refused, Bland tried to open the door but when he could not, he retreated and fired at least two shots from a 9mm handgun. Officers responding found two spent 9mm shell casings and a spent 9mm round outside the home, and there were two bullet holes in the home.

Bland’s attorney, Tom Zena, told jurors that there are several gaps in the evidence and they may be tempted to fill them with what they would do. However, Zena implored them to stick to the facts of the case and to find his client not guilty because those gaps cannot be filled.

“You must make this decision based solely on the evidence,” Zena said.