Feb 20, 2013 3 min read

A district judge dismissed robbery and other charges against two men accused of forcing their way into a Canton Township apartment more than 13 months ago after an alleged witness testified Wednesday she did not see anything.

Hakeem Jamil Warren, 20, and Conor J. Chatman, 19, both formerly of Washington, had been accused of forcing their way into an apartment at Belvedere Acres Dec. 18, 2011. They were charged by state police with attempted robbery, criminal trespass, carrying an unlicensed firearm, possessing instruments of a crime, terroristic threats and reckless endangerment.

Before the start of their hearing, a third man charged waived his case to court on charges of robbery, criminal trespass, terroristic threats and reckless endangerment. Patrick Lewis Parkman, 21, of 18 Oak St., Washington, also was accused in the robbery.

Stephanie Brown said she stayed in the kitchen and never came out to the living room when her apartment was entered.

“I was not paying attention,” Brown testified. “I was in my own little zone. I saw my pregnant sister on the ground.”

Brown said others in her apartment identified the suspects, although she admitted to going to school with them. She said she was leaving to go to her mother’s home when state police arrived.

“I told them nothing serious happened,” Brown said.

State police Cpl. Kiprian Yarosh interviewed Brown about two weeks after the reported robbery. Brown gave him the names of all three suspects. She also had several Facebook conversations with Chatman about the incident.

Yarosh said he learned during the investigation that the three allegedly had gone to the location to rob someone for drugs, but it was the wrong apartment.

Attorney Robert Mielnicki, who represented Warren, and Assistant Public Defender Tom Cook, representing Chatman, both argued the only testimony against their clients was hearsay. They also objected to allowing a statement given by Parkman to Yarosh.

“The witness said she saw no one and identified nobody,” Mielnicki said.

Cook also questioned the use of the comments on Facebook, questioning if prosecutors had any proof the remarks were actually written by his client.

Assistant District Attorney Justin Papciak countered there was at least enough evidence to hold the case for court.

In dismissing the case, District Judge Joshua Kanalis told the attorneys the problem was with the direct testimony from the only witness. Even before the conclusion of the testimony, Kanalis remarked that, at best, the case was weak.

Parkman is free on $100,000 unsecured bond. Chatman and Warren remain in the Washington County jail, facing charges in separate incidents involving guns last July. Warren is accused of firing shots into a vehicle at Mega Express, Ridge and Murtland Avenues. Chatman was arrested when he was found with a gun at a city playground.