Published: May 20, 2008 11:49 pm            

COURT: Guilty verdict in home invasion

A Niagara County Court jury on Tuesday found two men accused in a violent home invasion guilty on all counts against them.

Rakeem Golson, 17, of Evans Street, and Antonio Clark, 20, of Prospect Street, were each found guilty of the 16 counts against them — five counts of first-degree burglary, six counts of first-degree robbery, two counts of fourth-degree conspiracy, two counts of second-degree robbery, two counts of second-degree assault and one count of second-degree burglary.

The jury of seven women and five men deliberated for five hours Monday and for several more hours Tuesday before returning their verdict.

Golson and Clark stormed into a Locust Street apartment in the early-morning hours of April 3, 2007, robbing and pistol-whipping a man and a woman and threatening others.

Witnesses testified that the men who stormed into the apartment were wearing bandanas on their faces and socks on their hands.

Despite their disguises, one of the victims, Shawn Pittler, testified he recognized them as Golson and Clark during the incident.

During the deliberations, jurors asked three times for some testimony to be read back, specifically the testimony of Amy Bower, a witness for the prosecution, according to Golson’s attorney, Phillip Dabney.

Bower, a co-defendant, has already pleaded guilty to fourth-degree conspiracy in connection with the case.

She had told the jury she helped plan the robbery with Golson, Clark and at least two other men, with the intent of stealing marijuana from Pittler.

Bower testified that she went into the Locust Street apartment first in order to buy some marijuana from one of the residents. When she left, she did not lock the door, allowing the masked men to rush up the stairs and into the apartment, she said.

One victim, Sara Heal, now 21, testified last week that she was pistol-whipped and assaulted.

Police said the suspects got away with cash from the victims’ pockets, an XboX game system and five videotapes.

Contact reporter April Amadon at 439-9222, ext. 6251.

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.