Painesville man gets 28 years in prison

Sentenced for 2018 aggravated burglary in Painesville Township

A Painesville man was sentenced to 28 years in prison for his role in a July 2018 Painesville Township armed burglary.

Manson Bryant, 32, was sentenced by Lake County Common Pleas Court Judge Eugene A. Lucci March 1 after being found guilty last month by a jury on all charges.

Bryant was one of three people in- volved in the July 6, 2018, robbery. According to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Bryant and 41-year-old Jeffrey Bynes of Bedford entered the victim’s Painesville Township residence at about 4:50 a.m., July 6.

One of the men pointed a gun at the victim. The victim believe the trigger was pulled because he heard a click from the gun.

The victim also told the Sheriff’s Office the gun was physically placed on his head and around the same time one of the men covered the victim’s head with a blanket that was taken from his

bed. The blanket was held over his face and one of the men struck him. The victim said the gun was then placed on his ribcage and his wallet was stolen from his pants.

Two more wallets were stolen, totaling about $800, along with a ring, a phone and a laptop.

Bynes, who was previously sentenced to 12 years in prison after pleading guilty for his role, said he originally entered the victim’s home to get back his laptop. Lindsey Medina, 32, of Madison Township, who was arrested along with Bynes on July 8 had previously sold a laptop to the victim.

Bryant was charged with two counts of first-degree felony aggravated burglary, first-degree felony aggravated robbery, first-degree felony kidnapping, thirddegree felony abduction, third-degree felony having weapons under disability and fourth-degree felony carrying a concealed weapon.

According to the sentencing memorandum filed by the Lake County Prosecutor’s Office, the victim suffered serious psychological and economic harm.

“To have unknown people enter your home without your permission and terrorize while there, would leave a lasting impression,” the sentencing memorandum stated.

Also according to the memorandum, Bryant has a lengthy criminal history. As an adult he’s served four

prior prison terms. He was last released from prison in November 2017 and was on probation at the time of the burglary.

In the defense’s sentencing memorandum, Bryant’s attorneys said that it was not his decision to commit the robbery.

“The victim was assaulted during the robbery, but it does not appear that he suffered any significant or lasting physical injuries,” attorneys Daniel J. Williams and Jerome Emoff wrote in their memorandum. “The evidence at trial was unclear with regard to which robber actually struck the victim. What is clear, however, is that the robbery was committed by individuals who existed in a world in which the next fix was the most important consideration for each day.”

The attorneys said it was Bynes who at all times possessed the firearm.

“It is likely that Bynes committed any assault against the victim,” they wrote. “Bynes conceived the idea to commit a robbery. Bryant is distinguished from Bynes in this manner.

“While accepting responsibility for one’s misconduct should be afforded credit in terms of punishment, an accused should not pay a penalty for exercising his right to trial.”

“As the aider and abettor, and as the person whose involvement was secondary to the principal actor, Bryant’s sentence should be similar or lesser than that received by Bynes,” they said.

Medina, 32, previously pleaded guilty to complicity to burglary. She received five years of community control and must serve 45 days in jail with no credit.

Bryant