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Clearfield jury finds Duncansville man guilty of burglary

CLEARFIELD – It took a Clearfield County jury about 30 minutes to find a Duncansville man guilty of burglary and assault for entering a residence and striking a man.

Andrew James Martin, 34, was also found guilty of two additional counts of assault, possession of drug paraphernalia, criminal mischief and defiant trespass by the panel of nine women and three men. In addition, Judge Fredric J. Ammer­man found him guilty of summary harassment.

The charges stem from an incident in Bigler Town­ship, Clearfield County, on May 29 after Martin was told to leave a residence by police, but instead returned and kicked the door down.

Two state troopers testified that they responded to a report of a suspicious male crying outside the victim’s home. When they arrived they saw Martin, wearing only basketball shorts, on Blackburn Road.

The first officer described Martin as erratic and going through a variety of emotions. He stated he was fighting with his wife, which was why he was at a neighbor’s home.

A background check showed Martin had no outstanding warrants, but his driver’s license was suspended. Troopers told him to stay away from the residence, and his wife was called to pick him up.

Believing that everything was under control, the officers left the scene, but they were soon called back to the home.

Martin had returned to the residence, argued with the resident and her brother, then broke down the door.

Previous testimony from the victim explained that the female victim’s brother, who she called after her first encounter with Martin that caused her to call 911 in the first place, fired his gun at Martin, but it misfired, according to reports.

Martin then punched and kicked the man until his sister pointed her gun at him, causing him to flee the home. Once outside, another man was able to get Martin on the ground and hold him until the police returned.

Martin was out on bail for a Blair County incident for which he was charged with terroristic threats, assault and recklessly endangering another person at the time of the Clearfield County assault, according to online court documents.

He will be sentenced within 60 days.

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