NILES Assault, disorderly charges against two are dismissed
The two got into a tussle in the restroom outside the court where both were attending a court proceeding.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
NILES -- Charges against two men stemming from a bar fight and an ensuing scuffle in a restroom at municipal court have been dismissed.
Kevin Mosko, 38, of East Second Street initiated felonious assault charges in January against Joseph Cupido, 62, of Andrea Boulevard. Mosko said in court documents that Cupido hit him over the head with a beer bottle Jan. 2 at a bar.
The case was set for February in Niles Municipal Court. The two got into a scuffle in the restroom while waiting to go into court, resulting in disorderly conduct charges against both.
All the charges were dismissed Friday.
Mosko requested dismissal of the felonious assault charge against Cupido, and neither man wanted to testify regarding the disorderly charges.
At the time of the restroom scuffle Mosko said in his statement to police that he went into the restroom and Cupido came in, offering him $1,000 to leave and dismiss the charge.
Describes fight
Mosko said he declined, saying he had more in medical bills.
He said that while he was zipping up his pants, Cupido hit him in the back.
Mosko said he turned and pushed Cupido and reached for the door when Cupido hit him in the chest and pushed Mosko against the wall, holding the door shut. Mosko said he then started screaming because he heard that Cupido sometimes carries a gun.
Cupido was one of the people named in 21 federal search warrants in November related to a gambling operation that authorities have said was being operated out of the General Motors fabrication plant in Lordstown and a building on Wood Avenue S.W. in Warren.
Authorities have said the gambling operation was bringing in an estimated $10,000 a day.
No arrests have been made nor indictments issued.
Search warrants
The FBI and officers from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation and the Niles, Warren and Lordstown police departments used the warrants to search homes, vehicles and other structures in Trumbull County.
The warrants stated that many gambling records, football pool cards and betting slips were confiscated.
Authorities have said the operation included sports bookmaking and a numbers lottery being conducted from GM's fabrication plant and a building identified by authorities as the Tri-County Golf Club at 1109 Wood Avenue S.W.