Two plead to tampering charges in house shooting case
By Joe Gorman
YOUNGSTOWN
Two of four defendants charged with shooting up a home in February entered guilty pleas this week in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court to counts of tampering with evidence.
Christopher Roman, 20, of Hayes Street in McDonald pleaded guilty Friday before Judge Shirley J. Christian and had seven counts of felonious assault dropped in exchange for his plea.
On Wednesday, Hanna Schneider, 25, also of Hayes Street, made the same plea bargain as Roman.
Two other defendants – Carlos Lujano, 19, of Logan Avenue Northeast, Warren, and Isael Roman, 20, of Hayes Street in McDonald – are set for trial in the case.
The four were accused of shooting up a house Feb. 13 in the 2200 block of Elm Trace in Austintown that had seven people inside. No one was injured. Police said more than 10 shots hit the house.
Lujano and Isael Roman both face seven counts of felonious assault, as well as a count of improper discharge of a firearm at or into a habitation.
Assistant Prosecutor Mary Beth DiGravio said the four were at the home to assist a woman who wanted to leave. The people in the car exchanged words with the people in the home, then left.
DiGravio said the car drove around the neighborhood for awhile before someone inside fired several shots at the home.
Schneider and Christopher Roman took shell casings from the weapon used that were inside the car and got rid of them before police could examine them, which is why they are charged with tampering with evidence, DiGravio said.
Trial for Lujano and Isael Roman is set for Aug. 10.
All the defendants except Isael Roman have posted bond. Isael Roman is still in the county jail.