5 teens indicted for alleged roles in Cobb home invasion

Top row, from left: Sarah Austin, Thomas Poole, America Lesesne. Bottom row: Verdeldric Ware, Jahvon Hammond.

Credit: Cobb County Sheriff's Office

Credit: Cobb County Sheriff's Office

Top row, from left: Sarah Austin, Thomas Poole, America Lesesne. Bottom row: Verdeldric Ware, Jahvon Hammond.

A Cobb County grand jury on Thursday indicted five teenagers accused of barging into a Powder Springs home last spring and robbing people at gunpoint.

The alleged home invasion took place during a sleepover in May, police said, and three 16-year-olds charged in the incident are being tried as adults.

The homeowner, Isabel Lay-Meireles, told Channel 2 Action News her son had friends over to play video games. But she didn’t realize any girls were coming over until they were taken away in handcuffs.

RELATED: 3 teens face adult charges after armed home invasion in Cobb; 2 more sought

Sarah Austin and America Lesesne were hanging out with the group of teen boys when three others barged in, Cobb police told Channel 2.

The teens held the group at gunpoint and demanded an iPhone and Gucci wallet, police said.

Lay-Meireles’ son wasn’t in the room during the robbery, but he ran and woke up his sleeping parents after hearing the commotion, Channel 2 reported.

“I just heard robbery, guns, and I jumped out of the bed,” she said. “And I just ran outside. I was calling 911.”

Police identified Verdeldric Ware, Thomas Poole and Jahvon Hammond as the alleged robbers. Authorities said Austin and Lesesne were planted there to assist in the robbery.

Three of the suspects were arrested at the home, while Ware and Hammond were taken into custody about a week later.

All five teens were indicted Thursday on one count each of armed robbery, aggravated assault, home invasion and first-degree burglary, records show.

They have since been granted bond.

MORE: All 5 teens granted bond after armed home invasion in Cobb

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