COUNTY COURT

COUNTY COURT
Austintown
Several people recently appeared before Judge David D'Apolito in Mahoning County Court in Austintown:
Nick Meris, 42, of Sanderson Avenue, Campbell, pleaded guilty to four counts of aggravated menacing. Two counts of aggravated menacing were dismissed. Meris brandished an unloaded rifle in a Westchester Drive law firm in February and screamed at an attorney and a clerk. He was sentenced to 180 days in jail. Meris also was ordered to serve 24 months of probation and told to stay away from the attorney's office and from all Ohio Bureau of Worker's Compensation offices.
Israel Said, 18, of Hamilton Avenue, Farrell, Pa., pleaded innocent to carrying a concealed weapon and inducing panic, and posted a $2,500 bond. Said is accused of carrying a pellet gun and running from police in April on Dunbar Avenue. His next hearing is set for June 16.
Matthew Cochrane, 37, of Willis Avenue, Youngstown, is charged with possession of criminal tools. No plea was accepted, as the charge is a felony. Cochrane is accused of stealing stereos from several cars in Austintown in April. His next hearing is set for Thursday.
Sean Sorrentino, 19, of state Route 46, pleaded guilty to drug abuse and possession of drug paraphernalia. Police said Sorrentino was found walking through Fitch High School with suspected marijuana in his pocket. He was given a 30-day suspended jail sentence and ordered to pay $145 in fines and court costs and to serve six months probation. His driver's license also was suspended for 180 days and he was ordered to undergo drug assessment.
Judge D'Apolito sent the case against Roger McClellan, 21, of North Meridian Road, to common pleas court. McClellan is charged with felony breaking and entering. Police said that in May, they found McClellan sitting on the basement floor of a North Raccoon Road home. Neighbors said a man had broken into the home.
Nicole Braun, 31, of Woodhurst Drive, pleaded guilty to obstructing official business. She tried to hide Rodney Gray, 32, of Warren, in her apartment in January. Gray is accused of trying to break into Braun's apartment the day before she was arrested. He pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of disorderly conduct. He had been charged with criminal damaging. Braun was given a 90-day suspended jail sentence and ordered to pay $150 in fines and court costs and serve six months' probation. Gray was ordered to pay $100 in fines and court costs.
The judge sent the case against Michael Hudak, 23, of Columbus, to county drug court. Hudak had pleaded innocent to possession of drug paraphernalia and drugs. Police said Hudak drove a car into a pile of snow in January on Connecticut Avenue. A suspected marijuana pipe and unidentified pills were found in the car.
A warrant was issued for the arrest of Jermaine Stroughter, 23, of East Pasadena Avenue, Youngstown, after he did not show up for a court hearing on a disorderly conduct charge. Stroughter is accused of fighting outside of The Mill club and cursing at officers.
Alex Magnolia, Burkey Road, pleaded guilty to discharging fireworks. Police accused him of having a quarter-stick of dynamite, designed to be used as a firework, in his car when he was pulled over by police in June 2002. He was ordered to pay $160 in fines and court costs.