Third suspect charged
State police have filed charges against a third suspect accused of binding a Smithton woman, assaulting her with a taser gun and then robbing her inside her home Sept. 16. State police Trooper Christian D. Lieberum said Brian Buchman, 36, of Pittsburgh is facing charges of criminal conspiracy to commit kidnapping, robbery, two counts of aggravated assault, theft, recklessly endangering another person, possession of an instrument of crime, use of an incapacitation device and unlawful restraint.
Buchman, who is a police officer in Stowe Township in Allegheny County, is the third suspect charged in the alleged home invasion involving Johanna Manning.
Earlier this week, Heather Marie Young, 26, of Belle Vernon was charged before Magisterial District Judge Charles M. Christner with criminal conspiracy to commit kidnapping, robbery, two counts of aggravated assault, theft, recklessly endangering another person, possession of an instrument of crime, use of an incapacitation device and unlawful restraint.
The third suspect and alleged mastermind of the home invasion, Michael John Traynor, 31, of Smithton, is facing a single count of conspiracy to commit kidnapping, Lieberum said.
Lieberum said the incident occurred around 11:30 p.m. Sept. 16 at the Manning’s home on Fort Street.
Manning told police that two unknown people, later identified as Young and Buchman, entered her home and bound her to a pole in her basement with duct tape, Lieberum said.
Lieberum said Young and Buchman then ransacked the residence and stole several items from the home of the 40-year-old Manning.
Before leaving the residence, police said Buchman and Young twice used some type of taser gun to shock Manning.
Lieberum said that Traynor found Manning still bound inside her home around 9:50 a.m. Sept. 17.
He said that through his investigation, he learned that Traynor, who is Manning’s ex-fiancee, set up the home invasion by asking Baker to commit the crime and then paying Buchman for his role in the incident.
Lieberum said investigators have not developed a motive for the home invasion.
Young was placed in the Westmoreland County Prison on $50,000 straight cash bond following her arraignment.
Traynor was also lodged in the prison on 10 percent of $25,000 straight cash bond.
Buchman is awaiting arraignment on the charges filed against him.
Preliminary hearings for all three suspects will be held at a later date before Christner.