Two plead guilty in West Phila. attack

Two of four men charged in a series of crimes that included a home invasion, robbery, kidnapping, and rape in West Philadelphia pleaded guilty in court yesterday.

Tyree Johnson, 23, and Marcus Ballinger, 19, both of West Philadelphia, entered the pleas to charges connected with the June attack, in which a woman was raped and her brother robbed.

The other defendants, Troy Bolling, 20, and Demar Hough, 25, are scheduled for trial June 29. Yesterday, Bolling opted for a jury trial, despite warnings from Common Pleas Court Judge Rayford A. Means that he would likely get a stiffer sentence.

Assistant District Attorney William Davis said that about midnight June 11, the four defendants went to a home in the 4200 block of Girard Avenue and, armed with guns, confronted a man.

The man told them he had no money and suggested they go to his sister's house in search of money, Davis said.

The men then drove to a home in the 2300 block of South Norwood Street and forced their way in, Davis said. While one man held the woman captive, the other three took her brother to three ATMs, withdrawing about $600 from her account, he said.

All four men raped the woman at different times during the hours-long ordeal, Davis said.

During a jury-selection hearing, Means urged Bolling to plead guilty, noting that he could receive a sentence of 150 to 200 years in prison if convicted in a jury trial.

"I don't want to plead out," Bolling told the judge.

Means replied: "A trial of this magnitude will be like a death sentence to you."

Means said that evidence - including witness identification, DNA, fingerprints, and statements to police - would weigh heavily against Bolling in a jury trial.

Saying Bolling was unlikely to be acquitted, Means added: "If you take a jury and the jury says, 'not guilty' to these charges, I will resign."

Davis said that under a plea agreement, Johnson, who cooperated with authorities, would be sentenced to 20 to 40 years in prison. Davis said there was no sentencing agreement with Ballinger.

Sentencing was set for June 22.