Trial continues for alleged Masontown home invasion accomplice

A Masontown man told a panel of Fayette County jurors he and his 4-year-old son were threatened by a Brownsville man during a violent home invasion last year.
“I went to sleep and woke up with a gun in my face,” said Jonathan Packroni, 32, of Masontown in his testimony. He was in the North Waters Street home on Jan. 14, 2014, with his 4-year-old son Conner, his brother Ronald Packroni and a friend, Jonathan Byers when three masked men beat and threatened them, he testified.
Jonathan Packroni identified Keith Johnson, on trial in the matter, as one of those men.
Johnson, 24, was one of three masked men who allegedly robbed and beat the Packronis and Byers. The other two co-defendants, Broderick Harris, 28, and Bernard Lewis Richardson III, 28, both of Uniontown, were already tried and convicted of numerous charges related to the case.
On Monday, Ronald Packroni testified that his ex-fiance and mother of his two children Misty Danko — a fourth co-defendant — called him before the robbery, and asked to come over so that the two could have a sexual encounter. Danko left the bedroom a short time later to get a drink of water and Ronald Packroni followed and was met in the kitchen with a gun in his face, he testified.
Jonathan Packroni testified that he, Byers and his brother Ronald were brought to the living room and told to lay face down.
He testified he pleaded numerous times for the men to leave his son alone. The 4-year-old was asleep in a bedroom down the hall.
“I was told to ‘Shut the (expletive) up or we’ll kill your son,'” Jonathan Packroni said. “(One of the other men) said, ‘I’ll kill you both. I’ll kill your (expletive) kid.'”
Jonathan Packroni testified that he told the masked men that his son didn’t know anything and wouldn’t understand what they were talking about. He testified that he could hear them wake his son and take him to his father’s bedroom. One of the other masked men told another to put the boy back to bed because he was only 4, Jonathan Packroni testified.
Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Cassini asked Jonathan Byers how he felt when faced with the gun.
“I thought my life was over. I thought I was a letdown as a father. It’s the worst feeling, ever,” Jonathan Packroni, briefly wiping tears from his eyes.
Following the assault, the alleged victims fled to a neighbor’s home and called police.
Jonathan Packroni testified that his son Conner still refers to the assault.
“He has stated directly to me that he is going to hurt the bad guys who hurt his father,” Jonathan Packroni testified.
Jurors also heard testimony from Byers and Danko.
Byers, who testified that he knew Harris and Keith prior to the assault, testified Johnson and another masked man took him to an ATM after cleaning the blood from his face. He testified that he wasn’t able to withdraw the funds from the ATM because it wasn’t the same branch as his account.
Byers continued to deny having money, but out of fear, later told them there was money at his parent’s home, he testified. Roughly $50,000 was taken from his parent’s basement, Byers said.
Johnson’s attorney Assistant Public Defender Michael Garofalo asked Byers during cross-examination why he waited so long before telling the men he had money.
“I wasn’t going to hand something over just because they think they’re tough,” Byers testified.
Danko also began her testimony.
She testified that she and Johnson were in a sexual relationship at the time, adding that Johnson was with her in her apartment when she made a phone call to Ronald Packroni to ask about coming over, knowing that Johnson intended to rob Packroni of money and drugs. Danko said she was going to the Packroni house to smoke marijuana and collect child support, she testified.
Danko said she “pretty much owed (Ronald Packroni) a favor for renting me a car,” she testified, referring to a car Ronald Packroni rented in his name for Danko so that she could drive to work.
Danko testified that she was “scared” and didn’t want to follow through with the plan once inside the house.
“(Johnson) said if I didn’t open the door, there would be problems,” she testified, adding that she unlocked the door out of fear. “Harris, Richardson and Johnson entered the kitchen with masks and guns, telling everyone to get on the floor.”
Johnson told Danko to tell police she was kidnapped and forced to participate in the assault and was left along Route 21, Danko testified. She said Johnson also gave her several thousand dollars that was divvied up from Byers’ stolen loot to pay for a lawyer, she testified.
“Keith said to stick to the story, and that he would kill me and my kids if I opened my mouth,” Danko testified.
Danko’s questioning will resume this morning at 9 a.m. before Judge Joseph M. George Jr.