Toledo man gets probation for break-in

1/10/2012

A Toledo man was sentenced Tuesday in Lucas County Common Pleas Court to community control, including time in custody, for his role in breaking into a central-city home where, days earlier, two people were found shot to death.

Dontae Elliott, 22, of 3540 Erie St. was sentenced to three years of community control, including 30 days at the Corrections Center of Northwest Ohio. Judge Myron Duhart postponed imposition of the days in jail until Thursday to give Elliott time to make arrangements about his schooling.

Elliott pleaded guilty Nov. 22 to breaking and entering. He and a co-defendant, Frank Stewart, 46, of 2264 Auburn Ave. were charged with breaking into 2226 Sanford St. on Oct. 1, two days after Andrew Baker and Tanja Cathey, both 28, were found shot to death in the home. The homicides remain unsolved.

Stewart pleaded guilty Dec. 24 to burglary and faces up to three years in prison when sentenced Jan. 24.

Items including a washing machine, dryer, and deep freeze were taken from the house but left outside the home when the suspects fled when police arrived.