WARREN Man who dragged cop gets prison time

The defendant could have received up to 10 years.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- A 30-year-old Mineral Ridge man who admitted dragging a police officer with his car has been sentenced to six years in prison.
David Molina of Woodledge Drive apologized to Sgt. Robert Massucci during the brief sentencing hearing Wednesday in the Trumbull County Common Pleas courtroom of Judge W. Wyatt McKay.
Molina, who pleaded guilty last month to charges of aggravated vehicular assault and failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer, could have been sentenced up to 10 years.
According to police reports, Massucci stopped the car Molina was driving Feb. 22 on Belvedere Avenue for a traffic violation.
Massucci asked Molina a few questions, then Molina started to drive off.
Massucci attempted to grab onto Molina's arm and became entangled in the car. Massucci said he yelled at Molina to stop the car, but Molina kept going.
The vehicle crashed shortly thereafter. Massucci was dragged about three blocks, suffering a broken leg.
Earlier sentence
Molina recently completed a 62-day sentence in the Trumbull County jail.
In March, Judge Michael Bernard of Girard Municipal Court revoked Molina's probation and sentenced him to two months and two days. Judge Bernard had placed Molina on probation in May 2000 for driving without a license.
He failed to pay $573 in fines and costs, didn't provide a correct address and telephone number and didn't respond to a letter directing him to report to the probation department.
Molina told Judge Bernard he broke up with his girlfriend and was living with his sister and he didn't have the money to pay the fines, but he acknowledged paying a $750 bond in the 2000 case and has paid $3,600 toward $100,000 bond in the Warren case.
Molina, who is in the county jail, said he is living with his girlfriend, who is paying the bills while his money goes toward his legal problems.
sinkovich@vindy.com