Two men accused of entering a Sharon home the morning of June 18 and robbing a man inside now face a hearing in Mercer County Common Pleas Court.

Joseph Kirkland, 39, of 802 New Castle Ave., Sharon, and Carlton S. Estes, 35, Rochester, Pa., are charged with burglary, robbery and criminal conspiracy. The pair had a preliminary hearing Thursday before District Justice James E. McMahon, Sharon.

Damon Logan of Warren, Ohio, testified that he was inside 150 Fourth Ave., the home of Jillian Jobe, at about 7 a.m. talking to Shyffaun Ham when there was a knock at the door. Logan said before he could get to the door, it opened, Kirkland looked inside and then closed the door.

Logan gave the following testimony:

Ms. Ham told him she knew Kirkland because he is her neighbor.

Several minutes later Kirkland came back through the door with Estes. This time Kirkland was carrying a baseball bat. Kirkland asked Logan what he was doing with his wife and kids.

Logan thought Kirkland meant Ms. Ham was his wife. Kirkland then told Logan if he was going to be with Ms. Ham, Logan would have to pay him.

Kirkland told Logan to empty his pockets and Logan put items on the floor including change, a driver's license and a lighter. Kirkland pocketed the items.

Kirkland told Estes to go get his gun and Estes left. Estes returned a few minutes later with his hand tucked in his pants, but Logan said he never saw a gun.

The pair told Logan to take off his jewelry, which included a bracelet, ring and necklace. Logan was also told to take off his shoes and a coat.

During the robbery Logan called upstairs, where his friend Donald Smith was sleeping. Logan told him, "I'm down here getting robbed."

Smith used a cellular phone to call 911. By this time everyone had moved outside, where Logan said Ms. Ham and Ms. Jobe were "consulting" with Kirkland and Estes, trying to get Logan's things back.

Sharon Police Sgt. Mark Yassem testified that when police arrived there were several people outside and there was a van parked in the driveway. Yassem said they searched everyone for weapons, and Logan told him Kirkland and Estes robbed him.

Yassem said inside the van they found Estes and two women. Also inside the van were the baseball bat, the stolen coat and jewelry on the seat of the van. Yassem said he showed Logan the jewelry and Logan said they were his.

Kirkland told Yassem the van belonged to his wife, and Yassem said Kirkland gave him permission to search the van. Yassem said besides the bat he didn't find any other weapons in the van.

At the police station officers found Logan's other stolen items on Kirkland, Yassem said.

Kirkland's arrest came less than two months after he testified against Jamie M. Brown, the man convicted of killing Aliquippa police officer James Naim on March 15, 2001. According to an article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Kirkland testified he has served two prison terms and after 2000 had been accused of three new felonies, but all of the felony charges were dropped. Kirkland said he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor and was spared from serving at least 21 months in prison according to sentencing guidelines for someone with a police record as extensive as his, the article said.

Both Kirkland and Estes have parole detainers against them, and McMahon released them on unsecured bond.