Austintown man pleads to reduced charge in break-in

AUSTINTOWN — A township man plead guilty to a reduced charge today after authorities could not prove criminal intent once he entered another residence.

Raymond Betts, 32, of North Roanoke Avenue, plead guilty to criminal trespass, fourth degree misdemeanor, after he was arrested last week on first degree felony burglary. He was sentenced to 15 days in the Mahoning County jail, and was given credit for seven days served Wednesday morning.

"We can't prove his purpose. These two guys know each other," said Ken Cardinal, Mahoning County assistant Prosecutor. "Nothing [was] missing from the apartment."

A juvenile who was also arrested in the case picked the lock to the residence of a man incarcerated in the Mahoning County jail. Since the lock was picked and not damaged, there were no damages to the apartment itself.

"In a burglary you have to prove that the purpose of entering the dwelling was to commit a criminal action," Cardinal said.

He was arrested Aug. 25 with the juvenile after authorities were called to a residence in the 200 block of South Main Street.

Authorities continue to investigate a methamphetamine lab that was found there but was not active when authorities found it.