YOUNGSTOWN Judge sets bond in beating case

The prosecutor said the suspect attacked the woman who fired him.
By JoANNE VIVIANO
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- A municipal judge ordered bonds totaling $450,000 on a city man accused of trying to kill a 49-year-old East Side woman who had paid him as her handyman.
Arnold R. Stone, 40, of Northwood Avenue, faces charges of attempted murder, aggravated arson and aggravated assault for an Oct. 3 attack on Barbara J. Heath at her North Truesdale home.
Held at the Mahoning County Justice Center, Stone was arraigned Tuesday at Youngstown Municipal Court via video feed before Judge Robert A. Douglas Jr.
Assistant prosecutor Mike Krause had recommended the $450,000 bond due to the "serious nature of the charges."
Explanation: "The defendant had at one time performed some work for the victim," Krause said. "When he was fired, he returned to her home and beat her with a baseball bat."
Stone also beat Heath with a masonry hammer and set a fire in her basement, Krause said. He told the judge Heath has been too fearful to return to her home. She suffered head injuries and two broken arms.
Youngstown police Detective Sgt. Gerald Maietta said Heath feels fairly safe knowing Stone is behind bars. He said police would also be concerned for Stone's welfare if he was released because Heath has relatives who could want to harm him.
Stone, who turned himself in to police on Monday, requested that Judge Douglas set a reasonable bond and also a review of his financial status. He told the judge that his employment was doing temporary services.
The judge appointed an attorney to handle Stone's defense.
viviano@vindy.com