DUBOIS – A former DuBois man accused of possessing several firearms and selling drugs is now facing additional charges for a home invasion in Kittaning.
Brandon Allen Patino, 34, currently an inmate of the Clearfield County Jail, is charged with a total of five counts of possession of firearm prohibited, five counts of firearm not to be carried without a license, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity, manufacture/delivery/possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, three counts of criminal conspiracy, burglary, robbery and aggravated assault.
The original charges stem from an incident in DuBois May 26 when officers served a search warrant on Patino’s residence and found guns, money and drug packaging materials. The home invasion in Kittaning occurred June 5.
According to a grand jury investigation, Patino allegedly was at the Kittaning residence because he discovered a woman he believed had stolen methamphetamine and money from him was staying there.
Patino and Joseph Mazza, who were both wearing bandanas, allegedly entered a residence on Clearfield Pike Road at approximately 1 a.m. According to the testimony of a state trooper, they entered through an unlocked door. Patino allegedly struck one of the residents with a rifle. Mazza was also allegedly armed with a pistol.
Patino allegedly assaulted the woman, punching, kicking and hitting her with the stock of the rifle. Mazza allegedly pointed the pistol at the three other individuals in the home to ensure they did not interfere or call for help.
Karli Chambers also allegedly entered the residence and punched and kicked the victim. This victim eventually told Patino that the money and drugs were in her purse. They allegedly took her purse and cell phone, as well as one of the other resident’s cell phone. Before leaving, Chambers allegedly cut the landline wires leading to the home.
Patino was located at a motel in Indiana County later that day. When police arrived at the motel, Chambers was in the parking lot. She told them Patino was in the motel in room No. 9.
They knocked on the door of his room but he refused to come to the door. Officers eventually used force to enter the room. As they entered, Patino was allegedly seen coming out of the bathroom. He was taken into custody. Police allegedly found 42 stamp bags of heroin floating in the toilet. Patino also had $194 in his wallet.
A search of the motel room uncovered more firearms and ammunition hidden in the box springs of the mattress. This included a .45 caliber pistol and ammunition, a sawed off .22 caliber rifle and ammunition, a silver knife and drug paraphernalia. The guns were the ones suspected to be involved in the home invasion.
They also discovered items taken from one of the victims, a receipt for a hacksaw and two bandanas.
According to the grand jury testimony regarding the DuBois case, two confidential informants told police they had been threatened by Patino, who was allegedly involved with distributing methamphetamine. They said he had several weapons at his West Long Avenue apartment.
An officer checked on Patino’s record and discovered he had a prior robbery conviction that would prohibit him from owning or possessing firearms. A search warrant was obtained for the apartment.
Among the items allegedly found were several things associated with the use and distribution of controlled substances. This included a digital scale, Western Union receipts for the exchange of money, and plastic baggies.
Officers found a barrel of a firearm, which was sawed off, and a wooden stock that had also been sawed off. A K-9 officer alerted on a black safe found in the residence. Another warrant was obtained for the safe, which is the type used to store firearms.
Inside the safe was a .50 caliber muzzleloader, a .22 caliber rifle, a Ruger semi automatic .40 caliber pistol, a scope, plastic wrap and $15,000 in cash.
Patino’s original charges were withdrawn and re-filed with the information from the grand jury investigation. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 15.
