Bail reduction denied in alleged invasion
An Armstrong County man, claiming innocence in a suspected home invasion in which he was charged, remains in Butler County Prison after his bail reduction attempt was denied in Butler County Court on Monday.
Michael L. Bure, 36, of Worthington, continues to be held on $100,000, following the denial of the reduction by county Judge Timothy McCune.
Bure was charged with felony burglary, robbery, theft and related counts alongside Patrick C. Bookwalter, 35, of Brady Township, Clarion County; and Joseph R. Painter, 34, of Kittanning, after allegedly breaking into the home of Savannah M. Blust, 24, and her boyfriend, Macklin C. Haye, 24, in the 300 block of Petrolia Road on June 8.
“He claims to be an innocent attached member,” Bure's attorney, Armand Cingolani III, told the court. “He says he wasn't there.”
Bure testified, saying he wasn't part of the crime, and wanted out of the county facility to continue fighting a custody battle he is currently involved in.
Assistant District Attorney Laura Pitchford said she believes bail was “incredibly appropriate” for the charges, which includes several felonies, as well as other pending charges — terroristic threats, harassment and criminal mischief — in an unrelated case.
Pennsylvania State Police said the three men targeted the couple for proceeds of their illegal drug business, selling marijuana and THC wax, which they were making in the house.
The trio allegedly forced in a basement door to get into the home, police said. They believed some of the money was in a vehicle in the garage and some was in the kitchen.
Bookwalter entered the home while Bure and Painter searched the garage, police said. That is when Bookwalter, armed with pepper spray and a handgun, encountered Haye sleeping on the couch in the living room, before shooting him with the pepper spray as the two men tussled, police said.
Blust, who was sleeping on the second floor, heard the fighting and came downstairs, before repeatedly stabbing Bookwalter in defense of her boyfriend, police said.
Moments later, Bookwalter had a gun pointed at both occupants, and then he and his accomplices fled the house empty-handed, before making their getaway in Bookwalter's car.
Bookwalter then later called 911, claiming he had been stabbed near the All Star Bar in East Brady, and emergency crews found him in an alley near the bar. He had four stab wounds to his back, documents said. A medical helicopter flew him to the Pittsburgh hospital.
From his hospital bed, Bookwalter admitted his involvement to police, as well as claiming Painter was “responsible for planning and recruiting him for the robbery,” according to a police affidavit. He didn't know the name of the other accomplice, later identified as Bure.
While in the house as part of their initial investigation, police said, troopers noticed suspected marijuana, contraband and suspicious equipment.
Following a search warrant, two pounds of processed marijuana, $67,928 in currency, as well as psychedelic mushrooms and an assortment of drug contraband were found in the house, leading to felony charges of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, conspiracy and dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities, and misdemeanor counts of possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia against Haye and Blust.
