Home Invasion Suspects Slated to Appear in Court This Week

Stark County Jail officials confirmed this afternoon that all three suspects in the  in the 1100 block of Sunford Avenue are in jail. All are expected to appear in Stark County Municipal Court this week.

The suspects and expected court appearances are:

• Erick Howard, 20, of North Canton. in at the Stark County Jail Monday. He's jailed on a $250,000 bond and will appear in court at 9 a.m. Thursday for an initial appearance. He faces charges of aggravated burglary, a first-degree felony; rape, a first-degree felony; and theft, a fifth-degree felony.

• Seth R. Obermiller, 19, of North Canton. at the North Canton Police Department Thursday. He's jailed on a $250,000 bond and will appear in court for a preliminary hearing at 2:05 p.m. Friday. He faces charges of aggravated burglary, a first-degree felony; rape, a first-degree felony; and theft, a fifth-degree felony.

• Michael A. Taylor, 20, of North Canton. at the North Canton Police Department Sept. 28. He's jailed on a $250,000 bond and will appear in court for a preliminary hearing at 2:05 p.m. Friday. He faces charges of complicity to commit theft, a fifth-degree felony; and complicity to commit aggravated burglary, a first-degree felony.

say Howard and Obermiller broke into the couple's Meadowbrook Apartments home through the basement window. They woke up the couple, pointed handguns in their faces, duct taped their hands and feet and taped over their mouths. They demanded their cellphones and stole $1,000 cash, a pair of earrings and other belongings before leaving in a car driven by Taylor.

The woman told police she also had been raped. She was taken to Mercy Medical Center, where she was treated and released shortly after.

Police Chief Stephan Wilder said one or more of the suspects likely knew the male victim, and it's possible the incident occurred over drug money.

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