YOUNGSTOWN Jury convicts city man in shooting

The East Philadelphia Avenue man faces a sentence of up to 11 years in prison.
By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR COURTHOUSE REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- It took a jury less than an hour Thursday to convict Jerome Brooks of shooting at a man he considered his romantic rival.
Brooks, 45, of East Philadelphia Avenue, was on trial in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court, charged with felonious assault.
Testimony began and ended Wednesday. After hearing summations from the lawyers Thursday morning, the 10-woman, two-man jury wasted little time returning with the verdict.
Brooks sat quietly with his hands folded across his lap as the verdict was read.
"I am pleased with the jury's decision," said Assistant Prosecutor Deena Calabrese. "I think they did the right thing."
Defense attorney Jeffrey Limbian declined to comment until after Brooks is sentenced.
Sentencing
Judge R. Scott Krichbaum ordered Brooks held in the county jail without bond pending completion of a presentencing background check, which was requested by Limbian. Calabrese wanted the judge to impose a sentence immediately.
Brooks faces two to eight years in prison for the felonious assault charge, plus a mandatory three years for using a firearm. Under Ohio law, the firearm sentence must be served before and in addition to any time Judge Krichbaum imposes for the felonious assault.
Brooks was accused of shooting at 50-year-old Robert Bell with a sawed-off, double-barrel shotgun outside the Augusta Market on Augusta Street on Aug. 9.
Calabrese said Brooks was angry because he thought Bell was having an affair with Brooks' girlfriend, which Bell denied.
Bell testified that he saw Brooks walk toward him with the gun and pull the trigger. The shotgun blast missed Bell but shattered the windshield of his car.
Neighbors who live near the store also testified of seeing Brooks fire the gun.
bjackson@vindy.com