Apr 15, 2015 2 min read

A Washington man accused of pointing a gun at a man’s head during a home invasion on West Hallam Avenue in February was ordered Wednesday to stand trial.

Patrick “Raheem” Speer, 43, of 670 Jefferson Ave., was ordered held for court on charges of robbery, persons not to possess a firearm, carrying a firearm without a license, reckless endangerment and conspiracy by District Judge Ethan Ward following a preliminary hearing in Central Court.

Dustin Shane Phillips identified Speer as the man who pointed a gun at him while Nathaniel Johnson, 21, and Sheldon Morris, 19, both of Washington, ransacked his bedroom looking for money during the Feb. 25 incident at the 69 W. Hallam Ave. home.

He said Johnson called him earlier, wanting to come over with Morris and bring along a third person. Phillips testified he had known Johnson and Morris since they were toddlers but never saw Speer before that night.

“I told them to come upstairs and the next thing I knew, I had a gun pointed at me,” Phillips said. “I told them, ‘You’ve got to be kidding me.'”

Phillips said Johnson wrapped his wrists with duct tape while Morris looked for money as Speer continued to hold the gun on him. Finding no money, Morris loaded Phillips’ game system and some games in a bookbag and the three left.

Phillips was able to point out Speer as the man who reportedly held the gun on him after he was shown a photo array by city detectives. Detective Dan Rush, who filed the charges against Speer, said the 43-year-old was not initially a suspect. He said police got a tip that he might be involved in the robbery.

A burglary charge was withdrawn by the Assistant District Attorney Dennis Paluso before the start of the hearing, with Paluso telling Ward that after talking to Phillips it appears Speer and the other two men were allowed to enter the home.

Johnson is in federal custody on a weapons charge while Morris remains at large.

Speer remains in Washington County jail on $100,000 bond.