Man gets 12 years for Painesville Twp. burglary

A Bedford man has been sentenced for his role in Painesville Township burglary and robbery.

Jeffrey Bynes, 41, pleaded guilty to and was sentenced Nov. 8 on first-degree felony aggravated burglary (with a three-year mandatory prison sentence for a firearm specification) and seconddegree felony robbery.

Lake County Common Pleas Court Judge Richard L. Collins sentenced him to 12 years in prison.

According to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Bynes and another man 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 in cash, along with a gold nugget ring, a cell phone and an Apple laptop.

Bynes said he originally entered the victim’s home to get back his laptop. Lindsey Medina, who was arrested along with Bynes on July 8 had previously sold a laptop to the victim.

Bynes said it wasn’t the original intention to rob the victim. He also denied that the gun was ever pointed at the victim or placed on the victim’s head or ribs. He said his gun was on his hip.

This is the second time that Bynes has been sentenced by Collins this year. He is currently serving 33 months on unrelated charges, including two counts of heroin trafficking.

His 12-year sentence runs consecutive to those earlier charges.

“I would like to apologize to the victim and the court for my actions,” Bynes said. “I was under the influence of drugs. Drugs have really ruined my life.”

Medina, a Madison Township resident, pleaded guilty last month to second-degree felony complicity to burglary. She is being sentenced Nov. 28.

Manson Bryant, a Painesville resident, is the other man the Sheriff’s Office believes was with Bynes during the incident. He is currently awaiting a jury trial.