Trial separated for 1 in home invasion

8/5/2008

The trial for one of three Maryland men accused in a home invasion on Lewis Avenue in April has been separated from that of the other two defendants.

Jeremy Yates, 24, of Laurel, Md., is scheduled for trial Aug. 18 in Lucas County Common Pleas Court for three counts of kidnapping, with gun specifications, and five counts of aggravated burglary, also with gun specifications.

Judge James Jensen also set a Sept. 15 trial date for the remaining two defendants, Terrell Edwards, 23, of Waldorf, Md., and Julius Andrews, 25, of District Heights, Md., who face the same charges as Mr. Yates.

The trials were severed because two of the defendants, Mr. Edwards and Mr. Andrews, made statements to police that involved Mr. Yates, which could be used at their trials.

If convicted, the men face a maximum of 80 years in prison on the charges plus an additional three years for each gun specification, although some of the specifications could merge. All remain in the Lucas County jail on a $400,000 bond each.

Authorities said three men covered their faces with bandanas and entered a house at 4135 Lewis Ave. on April 20.

They bound the house's occupants with duct tape, threatened them with guns and knives, and demanded money and drugs, witnesses told investigators. Police were called by one of the occupants who escaped to a neighbor's house.