Mon Valley men charged in second home invasion
MONONGAHELA – Two Mon Valley men, who are in custody in connection with a home invasion in West Newton, face another round of similar charges involving a Monongahela robbery on the same day last week.
Monongahela police this week filed a string of charges against Dakota Richard Johnston, 22, of Donora, and Tyler James Hall, 22, of Charleroi, accusing Hall of placing a gun to a woman’s head during a robbery about 9:40 a.m. Thursday.
The victim said the intruders, both wearing ski masks, woke her up in a bedroom at 1111 Chess St. and demanded money belonging to a resident of the house who was not there at the time, police stated in the affidavit supporting the criminal charges in the case.
The woman, who had spent the night in the home, said she recognized the voices of the intruders as those of Hall and Johnston.
She began to cry in fear of her life after she said, “Tyler, Why are you doing this? What’s going on?” police said in the affidavit.
Hall responded by saying, “My name isn’t Tyler. Where is the … money?” the record alleges.
Police said the men then began to ransack the room and allegedly stole a handgun from a safe before the resident returned to his home. Hall and Johnston ran when the resident entered his residence, police said.
Police were later informed by Washington County 911 Hall and Johnston had been accused of forcing their way into a residence at 137 N. Second St. in West Newton about 11:10 a.m., where they allegedly pistol-whipped a woman before stealing a television and fleeing.
West Newton police had captured Johnston shortly after that home invasion, and Hall was at large until being picked up two days later and sent to Washington County jail on a probation warrant. Johnston was sent to Westmoreland County jail on $100,000 bond.
They have yet to be arraigned in the Monongahela case.
Hall, of 410 Fifth St., and Johnston, of 435 First St., were charged by Monongahela police with conspiracy, burglary, robbery, theft, unlawful restraint and reckless endangerment. Hall also faces charges of illegal possession of a firearm, making terroristic threats and simple assault, according to court records filed Monday and Tuesday before District Judge Curtis Thompson.