Chatman

YOUNGSTOWN — Issac T. Chatman, 29, waived preliminary hearing Monday in Youngstown Municipal Court on the murder charge he faces in the June 7 shooting death of his half-brother, Isaiah Donaldson, 31, at Chatman’s home on Benita Avenue.

A number of people in the courtroom of Judge Renee DiSalvo became emotional, including Chatman and others, when the subject of whether Chatman’s bond should be reduced from $700,000 was discussed.

Defense attorney Nick Brevetta asked for a bond of $100,000 and electronically monitored house arrest, noting the “very unique fact pattern” of the case, saying Chatman and Donaldson were half-brothers, and Donaldson “was suffering from mental health issues at the time of the offense.” Brevetta also noted that Chatman had never been arrested before this incident.

Youngstown prosecutor Kathy Thompson said she had spoken with the parents of the defendant and victim, and they “are on board with the modified bond.” She said the parents were present in court and would be willing to speak to the judge about the bond reduction.

But first DiSalvo asked Chatman if he worked, and he said he worked at Niles Manufacturing Inc. and acknowledged he has relatives in Michigan. He said he and the victim are half-brothers.

DiSalvo also asked Youngstown police detective Chad Zubal about “this very unique situation” involving the victim and defendant being closely related. Zubal said he did not have an objection personally to a bond reduction but said he wanted DiSalvo to be aware that Chatman’s mother lives in Flint, Michigan. He apparently said that to make sure DiSalvo knew Chatman had a close relative in another state.

Zubal added that the case is “very sad,” and DiSalvo agreed.

“This is a very difficult decision I have to make. I have to make sure (Chatman’s) attendance (at future hearings) is secured,” DiSalvo said. She ordered that bond be reduced to $500,000 with electronically monitored house arrest, saying the $500,000 was the least amount she would allow. She said Chatman’s attorneys could argue for a lower bond at the Mahoning County Common Pleas Court level if Chatman is indicted there.

Late last week, the Mahoning County Coroner’s Office identified the victim as Isaiah Donaldson, 31. An autopsy was performed at the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office, and the killing remains under investigation by the Mahoning County Coroner’s Office and the Youngstown Police Department, according to a coroner’s office news release.

A Youngstown police news release stated that officers were called to the 200 block of Benita Avenue at 6:19 p.m. for a shooting. When they arrived, they found the victim with gunshot wounds and also found Chatman, who turned himself in to police.

Chatman was later interviewed by detectives at the Youngstown Police Department and was booked into the Mahoning County jail.

Benita Avenue runs east-west between Fifth and Logan avenues, east of Crandall Park. The killing was the fifth homicide of the year in Youngstown. At this time last year, there were seven.

The most recent homicide before Sunday was the May 27 shooting death of Ty-Ron Perry Jr., 16, at a home in the 900 block of East Dewey Avenue on Youngstown’s South Side. Darius Smith, 22, is charged with murder in that case.