Mother, son charged in Charleroi home invasion
A woman drove her son and another man to commit a home invasion in Charleroi that left a teenager with injuries, police said.
Charleroi Regional Police arrested Fantina Devenia Rawls, 38, after a traffic stop on a white Dodge Journey identified as the vehicle driven to and from the 899 Twilight Hollow Road residence where the robbery was reported at 2:34 p.m. Monday.
She told police her son, Daquan Rawls, 18, of Charleroi, told her to go to a white house and gave her directions. She said they were going to the residence for marijuana. Police issued an arrest warrant for the teen. They are working to identify a second robber, who was identified as a black man with dreadlocks.
The 17-year-old victim told police he heard a knock on his door and two men rushed him, forcing him back inside the residence. They reportedly shoved a hand gun in his face and tied him up with zip ties and phone cords before placing a multi-colored scarf over his face, according to court documents.
He said they demanded pills and “QP,” referring to a quarter pound of marijuana. He continually denied having drugs in the house, and the two men allegedly ransacked the house, flipping couches and mattresses and removing ceiling tiles. The teen said they hit him with a .22-caliber long rifle, breaking the stock over his leg. The men left with a suitcase, police said.
Fantina Rawls admitted to taking the suitcase to her sister’s house where the two men got into another vehicle and “sped off.” Police found the suitcase in the basement of the house, which contained an Xbox, Samsung tablet and jar containing marijuana residue, they said.
Police interviewed Matthew Carr, another resident in the house who said Daquan Rawls texted him. In the conversation, police said Rawls admitted to the crime and threatened Carr for getting police involved.
“Yeah man, I did what I did,” and “I will give myself up,” Rawls was quoted as saying in the affidavit of probable cause filed in his case.
The teen suffered bruising to his neck and wrist and possible internal injuries to his left knee. He was treated at a hospital and given a knee brace and crutches, police said.
Daquan Rawls is charged with conspiracy to commit robbery, robbery, aggravated assault, intimidating a witness, prohibited possession of a firearm, theft, receiving stolen property, recklessly endangering another person, simple assault and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Fantina Rawls is charged with conspiracy to commit robbery, flight to avoid apprehension, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and three counts of receiving stolen property.
She was committed to Washington County Prison in lieu of a $30,000 bond. Her preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled for 1 p.m. Aug. 17 before Magisterial District Judge Larry W. Hopkins.