COLUMBIANA COUNTY Retired judge to hear case against council president

The council member faces misdemeanor and felony charges.
SALEM -- A retired judge from Steubenville will hear criminal charges filed earlier this year in Columbiana County Municipal Court against city council President David Ventresco.
Judge Richard Powell was appointed to the case recently by the Ohio Supreme Court.
An appointed judge was needed in the case because both municipal court judges, Mark Frost and Robert Roberts, excused themselves, saying they know Ventresco.
The case will be heard in the municipal court's Salem courtroom, a court spokeswoman said Thursday. No court dates have been set yet.
About the case
Ventresco, 51, was charged by city police in March with domestic violence, a first-degree misdemeanor that carries a maximum penalty of six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.
Police were called to Ventresco's home March 21. His live-in companion told them that she and Ventresco were arguing and he grabbed her around the neck and attempted to choke her.
The woman also alleged that Ventresco threatened other family members with a butcher knife.
Ventresco called the episode a misunderstanding that got out of hand.
Several days later, Ventresco was charged by city police with writing a bad check, a fifth-degree felony that bears a maximum penalty of a year in prison and a $2,500 fine.
The charge stems from a trash-collection company's complaint that Ventresco wrote a $1,000 bad check in November for services related to his now-closed restaurant.
After being charged and freed on bond, Ventresco missed two council meetings, citing health reasons.
He has since returned to his council duties. No council member has publicly suggested that he step down.
Ventresco, a Republican, has been council president since 1999.