Suspect in shooting, robbery, arraigned

Additional charges include aggravated robbery and felonious assault

By Joe Gorman

jgorman@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

The 14-year-old suspect accused of severely wounding a woman in her driveway during an attempted robbery was arraigned in Mahoning County Juvenile Court.

Magistrate Carla Baldwin on Monday entered pleas of denial, or the juvenile equivalent of not guilty in adult court, for Jhamiere Mann Clarke, who is charged with attempted murder, aggravated robbery and felonious assault for the Feb. 6 attack on Ellen Zban, 57, in the driveway of her Powersdale Avenue home.

The teenager surrendered to police Saturday after his mother brought him to the police station. He was placed in the Martin P. Joyce Juvenile Justice Center, where he was held over the weekend.

Baldwin said a preliminary hearing would take place within 10 days before Judge Theresa Dellick to determine if the case will be turned over to common pleas court and also if Jhamiere should still be kept in juvenile detention.

Because of the seriousness of the charges, Baldwin told the teen he would be kept in detention until his hearing is scheduled. He also had a lawyer appointed for him because his mother claimed she is indigent.

Zban had pulled into her driveway about 6:30 p.m. Feb. 6 when someone with a gun approached her car and demanded money. Reports said when Zban reached for her purse she was shot in the eye, bicep and shoulder before the gunman ran away. Police recovered three .22-caliber shell casings at the scene.

A judge issued a warrant for Jhamiere on Thursday, but police would not say how they were able to determine the teenager was a suspect.

Jhamiere’s mother was at the hearing, but she had nothing to say about the case.

Jhamiere was dressed in a plain, dark blue sweatshirt and sweat pants. His head was down as he read along with the complaints against him that Baldwin was reading in court. The only times he spoke were when he told Baldwin he understood the complaints against him and when he said “I love you, too,” to his mother as he walked out of the courtroom.

A court spokesman said the teen has prior convictions in juvenile court for obstruction of official business and receiving stolen property.