Three indicted for five-hour Lynn standoff

SALEM – Three Lynn men arrested in connection with a drug-related home invasion earlier this month that led to a five-hour standoff were indicted Wednesday afternoon by an Essex County grand jury.Assistant District Attorney A.J. Camelio wasted no time in presenting evidence to grand jurors resulting in numerous indictments being handed up late Wednesday afternoon.Buthchhay Chourb, 22, of 8 Minot St., Randell McClain, 29, of 9 South Elm St. #3 and Sokhannara Chea, 22, of 14 Ashton Terrace #1, all of Lynn, are charged with armed robbery, home invasion, aggravated kidnapping, carrying a firearm without a license as well as two counts each of armed assault with intent to murder.The charges arise out of an incident in Lynn that began shortly after 6:30 p.m. on June 9 when police received a report of a break-in at a home at 12 Wayne Ave.Reports indicate that a cookout was being held at the home earlier when the accused barged in uninvited.Police responding to the scene surrounded the house. Gunshots were exchanged in the standoff that lasted five hours.McClain was shot in the arm after allegedly firing at police from a second floor window. He surrendered and was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital where he underwent surgery.Chea fired at police after they tried unsuccessfully to talk him into peacefully surrendering. Finally, he ran down the stairs, firing his weapon multiple times, and police returned fire, striking him.Chourb surrendered to police when they arrived at the house.Investigators believe the suspects went to the home looking for drugs or money and that the suspects apparently assaulted a man. He was hurt, but not seriously, according to reports.The indictments handed down now move the case from Lynn District Court, where all three have pleaded innocent, to Salem Superior Court where they will be re-arraigned within a few weeks.In the meantime, all three are held in lieu of bail.Chea also has pending firearm and drug charges in Salem Superior Court stemming from an incident in Peabody on Nov. 15, 2010 and also firearm charges out of Lawrence in February of 2010, allegations he has denied.Also indicted were:Luis Canela, 24, and Stephanie Santana, 19, both of 14 Collins St., Unit 22, Peabody, charged with trafficking over 14 grams of heroin, trafficking over 28 grams of cocaine, distribution of heroin and possession of a counterfeit note. The charges stem from their arrest on May 26 when police say the couple conducted a drug transaction within their motor vehicle with their infant child present. Police then executed a search at their Collins Street residence and reportedly seized 56 grams of cocaine, with a street value of $5,000, 16 grams of heroin with a street value of $1,600 and $4,600 in cash.Ronald Fronduto, 37, of Salem, N.H., is charged with attempted murder, kidnapping, assault and battery causing serious bodily injury as well as four counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon in violation of a 209-A court order, two counts of intimidation of a witness and four counts of violation of a court order concerning allegations in Lynn from May 6 through May 11.Indictments are not an indication of guilt, rather it is a legal process that allows a case to be transferred from District Court to Superior Court allowing for a more severe punishment.