WARREN Juvenile released from Youth Services

A ruling on the boy's case states that the court failed to make sure the boy's guardian was notified of his court hearing.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- The 11th District Court of Appeals has reversed the conviction of a 15-year-old juvenile and returned the case to a lower court.
The juvenile had pleaded guilty to two charges of delinquency by way of aggravated assault and one charge of delinquency by way of domestic violence.
The appeals court issued the decision Monday, stating that Judge Pamela Rintala erred when she did not make sure that the guardian of the juvenile, Wandel P. Jordan of Warren, was given notice of the court hearing.
Judge Rintala could not be reached to comment.
The juvenile was sentenced May 16, 2001, to six months at the state Department of Youth Services in Columbus. Officials at Youth Services could not be reached to say when he was released.
Grandmother's absence
According to the ruling, written by Judge Diane V. Grendell, the juvenile's grandmother had custody of him. The ruling further states that he appeared in front of Judge Rintala on May 16, 2001, and his mother, stepfather, attorney and an employee with the Children Services Board were present. His mother and stepfather were the victims in his case, the ruling states.
The grandmother's "absence from the hearing at which the plea was entered is troubling," the ruling states. "There is no indication in the record that she, or appellant's mother, ever received a written summons concerning the proceedings. The trial court did not comply with the notice provisions" of the state's revised code.
Robert Kokor, an assistant public defender who represented the youth, said he had not read the appeal, so was unable to comment. He noted that an attorney with the state public defender's office in Columbus handled the appeal.
sinkovich@vindy.com