photo by: Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction

Chasmen Edward Foster

A trial date has finally been set for a Lawrence man accused of burglarizing the home of two Navy men before the sailors confronted him and held him at gunpoint until police arrived.

The accused, Chasmen Edward Foster, 35, of Lawrence, is charged with one felony count of aggravated burglary and one felony count of burglary. The charges are in connection with an incident on June 22, 2022, in the 1000 block of Alabama Street, as the Journal-World reported.

After numerous continuances for Foster to consider a plea agreement, on Monday he rejected an offer from the state for 90 months, or 7.5 years, in prison for pleading to the charges. Deputy District Attorney David Greenwald said the prison term had been recommended by retired judge Kevin Moriarty through a criminal mediation process.

“(Foster) was not interested in that offer,” Greenwald said.

Foster’s attorney, John DeMarco, said he had hoped to get an offer from the DA’s office for a reduced sentence, but the offer never came. He said the case would have to be resolved at trial.

Though parties can recommend a sentence, it’s the judge who ultimately decides on a sentence in accordance with state guidelines.

Judge Stacey Donovan scheduled the trial for May 19.

Greenwald agreed to the trial date but said one of the witnesses would likely need to testify via video conference.

In a motion to support his request, Greenwald wrote that one of the victims, Cameron Devany, was injured while on active duty in the Navy. Devany’s injuries include a broken back and he cannot travel by car or by plane.

Donovan said she would rule on Greenwald’s request and any other pending motions ahead of the trial at a hearing on April 10. She said she would also set a trial date or reassign Foster’s pending misdemeanor domestic battery charge to another court at that time.

Foster is currently free on a $5,000 surety bond.

According to the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections, Foster was convicted of one count of felony robbery in 2021.