AUSTINTOWN Man faces charges in slashing

AUSTINTOWN -- A Compass West man accused of slashing the finger of his children's grandmother was to appear in Mahoning County Court here today on a charge of felonious assault.
Gregorio Beltran, 29, was arrested by police on the charge Friday night. He is accused of slashing Joetta Stoddard, 48, of Nadyne Drive, Youngstown, who was treated by paramedics for a cut on her finger.
Reports state that Stoddard's daughter, Melissa Stoddard, 25, has two children, ages 5 and 18 months, with Beltran. The younger woman also has an 8-year-old daughter with another man.
Melissa Stoddard lives with Beltran in a Compass West townhouse, reports state. All three children were at the townhouse when the slashing occurred.
Joetta Stoddard told police that she was at the townhouse when Beltran and her daughter got into an argument over family matters around 7 p.m. Friday. Melissa Stoddard eventually told Joetta to take the three children and leave the townhouse. Melissa Stoddard then left.
Hand was cut
Beltran, however, would not let Joetta Stoddard leave with the children, police said. Joetta Stoddard then called police and her daughter.
Joetta Stoddard said that while she was waiting for police, Beltran came at her with a knife. She said she put her hand up and was cut.
Joetta Stoddard's brother-in-law, who was at the townhouse, pushed Beltran away. Beltran then tried to slash the woman again before going back into the townhouse, reports say. Police later found the knife under a couch in the townhouse.