YOUNGSTOWN Jury convicts 2 of robbing, slashing woman

Each man faces up to 18 years in prison.
By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR COURTHOUSE REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Two men who robbed and slashed a Youngstown woman at an Austintown bank last year will be sentenced next week.
A jury deliberated just more than two hours Friday before convicting Jacob DiCarlo and Michael Kapsouris of aggravated robbery and felonious assault.
Each man faces up to 18 years in prison when they are sentenced by Judge Robert Lisotto of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.
DiCarlo's face and neck flushed as he listened to the verdicts read against him. As deputy sheriffs led him out of the courtroom, he looked at the victim and cursed at her.
Kapsouris, 25, of South Raccoon Road, softly bit his lower lip and bowed his head as the verdicts were read. He said nothing as he was taken away.
"As a lawyer, all I do is present the facts and let the jury decide. This is what they decided," said Atty. Douglas B. Taylor, who represents DiCarlo.
Kapsouris' lawyer, Mark Lavelle, declined to comment.
Both waived presentence background checks for their clients and asked that sentencing be as soon as possible so they can initiate appeals.
Telephone call was key
Assistant Prosecutor Robert Andrews said a telephone call is what helped police crack the case.
DiCarlo, 22, of Ayrshire Drive, bragged about the crime during a telephone call to a man who turned out to be a confidential informant for authorities, Andrews said.
"If he hadn't made that telephone call, this case might still be unsolved," Andrews said.
When police searched DiCarlo's home, they found a newspaper article about the robbery in his bedroom.
While housed in the county jail awaiting trial, Kapsouris told other inmates about the crime. Those inmates testified against the men during the trial.
The victim, a 39-year-old city woman, was depositing $6,000 for her employer at Key Bank on South Raccoon Road in July 2001. Kapsouris and DiCarlo were in a car next to hers.
Andrews said Kapsouris got out of the car and grabbed the money, which the woman had in a box. When she would not let go, Kapsouris pulled out a switchblade knife and slashed her abdomen. He got back into the car and DiCarlo drove away.
The victim chased the men a short distance, but stopped when she realized she had been cut.
bjackson@vindy.com