DUBOIS – A DuBois man allegedly involved in a home invasion and robbery waived his right to a preliminary hearing during a special session of centralized court Tuesday.
Joseph Michael Mazza, 23, 128 Reed St., DuBois, an inmate of the Jefferson County Jail, is charged with robbery, criminal conspiracy/robbery, burglary, criminal conspiracy/burglary, firearms not to be carried without a license, possession of firearm prohibited and aggravated assault.
These charges stem from a June incident in Kittaning when Mazza and two other people allegedly entered a home demanding money and drugs that they believed had been stolen from them.
According to court documents, police had been tipped off that Brandon Patino was selling drugs out of his West Long Avenue apartment in DuBois. A search warrant was executed on the residence, but Patino was not at home. Officers found guns, $15,000 in cash and items used to package drugs.
During Patino’s preliminary hearing in March, Mazza testified that he knew Patino was receiving meth from California in the mail and selling it. He wasn’t sure how much he was getting but said he thought it was a lot. He stated the drugs were coming in voodoo dolls that were hollow.
Not long after the raid at his apartment, Patino called Mazza asking for help. “He wanted to get money back from a girl who robbed him.”
Mazza stated that at one point, Patino was contemplating whether he should kill everyone “so there would be no witnesses” but decided that was a bad idea.
The two men put bandanas on their faces and went into the home. Patino hit a “kid” that was in the kitchen when they entered. They held the occupants at gun point, Mazza said. Patino hit the girl who supposedly robbed him and he was trying to figure out where the drugs were.
Karli Chambers also entered the residence. She pulled the phone wires out and yelled at the girl, he said.
Mazza said he was nervous and at one point the gun went off. They dispersed, he said, with Chambers grabbing the cell phones, a wallet and a purse.
Patino allegedly gave him more than two bricks of heroin for his help.
Patino, 34, currently an inmate of the Clearfield County Jail, is charged with five counts of possession of firearms prohibited, five counts of firearms not to be carried without a license, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity, manufacture/delivery/possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, criminal conspiracy-manufacture/delivery/possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, burglary, robbery, criminal conspiracy/robbery, and aggravated assault. Patino’s bail is $50,000.
In a second case, Mazza is charged with possession of firearm prohibited, possession of a controlled substance, manufacture/delivery/possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession with intent to deliver drug paraphernalia, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity, and prohibited offensive weapon. He waived these charges as well. His bail in this case is $1,000.
According to that affidavit, a probation officer discovered Mazza had guns in his possession. After police executed a search warrant on his residence, they found an assault rifle, numerous glass pipes, bongs, over 100 grams of marijuana, 32.30 grams of cocaine, knives, brass knuckles, a stun gun and more drug paraphernalia.