Ex-felon admits having weapon
By Joe Gorman
YOUNGSTOWN
A man charged with having an assault rifle and threatening people twice on the East Side in April pleaded guilty Thursday to weapons charges.
Judge Lou D’Apolito of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court told Jason Harmon, 25, he could not believe Harmon had the weapon after he already was barred by previous criminal convictions from having one.
“How in the world do you think this is a good idea?” Judge D’Apolito asked him.
Harmon pleaded guilty to two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, criminal trespass, aggravated menacing and trespassing into a habitation. Prosecutors are recommending a sentence of three years with Harmon serving at least two years before he is eligible to apply for an early release.
Harmon was charged in two shooting incidents April 17 at the Plaza View apartment complex and late April 19 on Springdale Avenue.
In the first incident, police were not called to the apartment complex until April 21, where Community Police Unit officer Jose Morales Jr. was told Harmon came to the complex, argued with a man, and fired a round from an assault rifle in the air, all while there were several people, including young children, outside.
No one was injured. There is video that shows the incident, reports said.
In the second incident, police were called about 11:10 p.m. April 19 to Springdale Avenue for a man driving around and firing a gun. Reports said a witness was able to identify Harmon and the car he was driving.
Harmon was arrested May 19 without incident after police found him breaking into an East Side apartment.
Defense attorney James Wise said that while he thought he has a good case if it went to trial, the risks are too great if his client is convicted. Wise said that while there is video of the Plazaview incident, it is not clear it is his client who is wielding a gun, although the person in the video was in a car that closely resembled one his client is known to drive.
Judge D’Apolito said Harmon is lucky no one was injured or killed.
“This is how people end up dying or spending the rest of their life in prison,” Judge D’Apolito said.
Harmon said he was glad no one was hurt.