Jail inmate charged with murder indicted on weapons offense

Indictment was handed down Tuesday

Staff report

WARREN

Austin T. Burke, charged with the June 12 aggravated murder and aggravated robbery of a Warren man, is now facing another serious charge: possessing a deadly weapon while under detention.

Burke, 19, of Miller South Road in Bristolville was indicted Tuesday in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court of a charge that could add another 10 years to any prison sentence he might get in the homicide.

Major Dan Mason of the sheriff’s office said jail officials overheard discussion in the jail indicating that Burke had a homemade knife.

Jail officials searched Burke’s cell July 23 and found a plastic spoon in the shape of a knife among his belongings.

The charge is a first-degree felony because of the charge that put Burke in the jail – aggravated murder or murder, Mason said.

Burke is facing a possible life sentence in the shooting death of Brandon Sample, 22, of Garfield Drive Northeast.

Burke also is charged with aggravated robbery, being a felon in possession of a firearm and tampering with evidence in the June 20 robbery of the Cortland Pizza Joe’s restaurant.

Sample’s body was found in a remote area of Bristol Township on June 15. Burke was arrested the night of the pizza-shop robbery.