Three Charged In Attempted Robbery Where Dog Was Shot Dead Headed To Trial

The three co-defendants accused of taking part in a early-morning Bristol Township robbery that went bad will head to Doylestown for trial.

Montel “Monte Carlo” Johnson, 22, a Philadelphia resident who grew up in Bristol Township, along with Matthew Lily, 29, of Philadelphia, had their cases forwarded to Doylestown by District Judge Joanne Kline after a joint preliminary hearing.

Defendant Brittany Carol Dorio, 19, of Philadelphia, waived her right to a preliminary hearing before Johnson and Lily had their hearings Wednesday.

Johnson is facing 22 charges including robbery, conspiracy, cruelty to animals and possession of a prohibited firearm.

Lily is facing 13 charges including robbery, burglary, conspiracy and theft.

Dorio is facing 12 charges including, robbery, burglary, conspiracy and theft.

Johnson is accused of shooting Cash, a Cane Corso breed dog, dead during a failed robbery at the home of Robert Ferry on Goldengate Road in Bristol Township’s Levittown section before sunrise on April 18.

Johnson fled the scene after Ferry chased him following the shooting of the dog. Dorio and Lily got away from the botched robbery scene in a car and were captured shortly by patrol officers, according to court records and testimony.

Ferry testified that he awoke several times throughout the morning to find Cash pacing or making noise. At one point, he let the dog out back and went back to sleep. A little more than an hour later, Cash began pacing like there was someone at the front door.

Upon going downstairs, Ferry told the court he witnessed Dorio looking in through a window on a car port door; he opened the door and Johnson stuck a gun in his face.

It is believed by investigators that items were stolen from Ferry’s girlfriend’s car and the defendants were trying to steal a motorcycle.

Ferry, who had children sleeping in the house at the time, testified that he asked Johnson if he was willing to kill him over a motorcycle.

Moments later, Cash got out of the house after Ferry opened the door. Johnson is accused of firing several shots and fatally gunning down the dog.

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After Ferry chased Johnson and lost him, police arrived and began an extensive manhunt for the 22 year old. Johnson was captured weeks later in Philadelphia by the U.S. Marshal Service and parole agents.

Prosecutor Chris Rees made the case that Johnson was trying to rob Ferry because he thought he had money in the house.

Bristol Township Detective Michael Slaughter testified that there were three shell casings recovered at the scene. He also stated that items DNA tested in the vehicle where Lily and Dorio found in after the shooting matched Johnson. The detective added that he did not test for fingerprints in the messy car.

Items stolen from Ferry’s girlfriend’s car were allegedly found in the possession of Lily and Dorio, according to Slaughter’s testimony.

Niels Eriksen, who is Lily’s court-appoint defense counsel, argued that his client didn’t commit the crimes he is accused of aside from standing there while the acts were committed.

Johnson’s court-appointed defense attorney, Paul Lang, argued against most charges before the district judge. Lang especially argued against the robbery charges.

“It was clear he intended to get in the house and steal items,” Rees rebutted.

All three defendants remain in court prison unable to post bail.