Woman doesn’t testify in home invasion case”What if I don’t want to proceed with these charges?”
With those words Latoya Perez of Uniontown, who had told police that she was robbed at gunpoint April 29, decided not to testify, resulting in the dismissal of the majority of the charges filed against Anthony M. Hunter of Uniontown. Hunter, 18, of Pershing Court was charged in May with felony counts of burglary, robbery and criminal attempt to commit robbery, as well as misdemeanor counts of theft, receiving stolen property and recklessly endangering another person.
According to city police Detective Donald M. Gmitter, the warrant was issued for Hunter after he allegedly entered the Farragut Street home of Perez and held her and Mark Miller of Uniontown at gunpoint while robbing Perez.
However, Perez, after being sworn in to testify in the case during a preliminary hearing Tuesday before Senior Magisterial District Judge Robert Breakiron, refused to testify against Hunter.
Perez told Assistant District Attorney Peter U. Hook that she always looked on Hunter “as a brother” and could not testify against him. However, she stopped short of testifying that her statement to police regarding the incident was untrue.
“I’m not saying it didn’t happen, but I am just going through a lot right now,” Perez testified.
Gmitter said the incident began shortly after 1 p.m. when Perez went to her home on her lunch break to retrieve money.
Hunter came into the home and held Perez and at gunpoint with two handguns and demanded money from Perez, Gmitter said.
Gmitter said Hunter allegedly held a black semi-automatic handgun to Perez’s head while holding a silver revolver to Miller’s head.
Gmitter said Perez gave Hunter about $400.
He then demanded money from Miller, who told him that he did not have any, Gmitter said. Hunter then fled the scene.
Miller was at the home baby-sitting Perez’s children, Gmitter said.
Miller, who was subpoenaed to testify, failed to appear in court and was subsequently charged with contempt of court.
All charges, except the reckless endangerment charge, which directly pertains to Miller, were dismissed against Hunter.
A preliminary hearing will be held at a later date on the endangerment charge.
After a motion by Public Defender Jeffrey Whiteko, Breakiron reduced Hunter’s bond to 10 percent of $15,000.