YOUNGSTOWN Alliance man guilty in break-in and rape

The man believes his right to a speedy trial was violated and plans to appeal.
By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR COURTHOUSE REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- An Alliance man will be sentenced in February for breaking into a woman's home and beating and raping her.
Christopher Stanley, 26, of East Main Street, pleaded no contest this week in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court to attempted murder, aggravated burglary and rape. Judge Maureen A. Cronin found him guilty of all charges.
He was indicted in 2000 and had originally pleaded innocent by reason of insanity. After three court-ordered psychiatric evaluations, he was deemed competent to stand trial.
Differing opinions
Deena Calabrese, assistant prosecutor, said the first evaluation was ordered by Judge Cronin and showed that Stanley was sane at the time of the crime and competent to stand trial.
The second one, paid for by the defense, showed that he was competent for trial but might have been insane at the time of the crime.
The third one, paid for by the state, again deemed him both sane and competent, Calabrese said. She said Ohio law allows up to three evaluations for criminal defendants who plead insanity.
Defense attorney James Gentile said Stanley took the plea because he did not believe he could win at trial with a mental illness defense.
Speedy trial issue
However, Stanley believes that his right to a speedy trial was violated, so he intends to pursue that matter with the 7th District Court of Appeals after he is sentenced.
Gentile said that's why Stanley chose to plead no contest instead of guilty.
"That preserves some of his procedural arguments," Gentile said.
Calabrese said Stanley broke through a window into the victim's Smith Township home around 4 a.m. Aug. 15, 2000.
Stanley, who knew the victim, wore a mask and disguised his voice when he spoke to the woman, who was 21 at the time, Calabrese said.
She said Stanley choked the woman and wrapped duct tape around her throat, choking her further. After he repeatedly beat her in the head, he covered her head with a blanket and used his fingers to rape her.
"She finally played dead, and that's when he stopped," Calabrese said.
When the victim was sure Stanley had left her house, she got up, wrapped herself in a bedsheet and drove to the township police station. From there, she was taken to a hospital for treatment.
Sentence recommendation
As part of the plea agreement, Calabrese recommended that Stanley be sentenced to 15 years in prison. Had he gone to trial and been convicted of all charges, he could have gotten a maximum 30 years.
Judge Cronin ordered a background check on Stanley before she sentences him Feb. 26. He is being held in the county jail until then.
bjackson@vindy.com