4 involved in Austintown home invasion receive 10-year sentences

YOUNGSTOWN — Four men involved in an Austintown home invasion pleaded guilty this morning in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court and received 10-year prison sentences for their actions.

Michael Doepker, 24, Luis Claudio, 21, and Noah Matheny, 21, purchased clothing at Walmart to dress like police officers and broke into a home on Beverly Road with semi-automatic rifles early on the morning of Feb. 6, while Mark Hernandez, 21, served as a getaway driver, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors said the men tied up the occupants and intended to steal money or drugs they believed to be in the house, but nothing was found.

All four men pleaded guilty to six counts each of kidnapping, aggravated robbery and aggravated burglary – one count for each victim. Doepker, Claudio and Matheny also pleaded to a charge of impersonating a police officer, and Doepker pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.