YOUNGSTOWN Woman sentenced in cruelty case

Last month, two counts of child endangering were dismissed.
By PATRICIA MEADE
VINDICATOR CRIME REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Darlene Shina has 83 jail days hanging over her head, and only successful drug treatment will keep her free.
In a plea agreement last month, the 24-year-old mother had two child-endangering charges dropped in municipal court, which left one count of animal cruelty. Shina, who has addresses in Youngstown and Liberty, was sentenced this week on the animal cruelty charge.
Judge Robert A. Douglas Jr. sentenced Shina to 90 days in jail, the maximum, gave her credit for seven days served, and placed her on 18 months' probation. He also fined her $100.
Judge Douglas ordered that she be placed in a residential substance abuse treatment program. As of Thursday, Shina was in the Mahoning County jail, pending transfer to the program.
The balance of the jail time will be decided after the treatment program is complete, records show.
About her case
Last June, housing inspectors red-tagged the house she lived in at 3916 Howard St., where Shina stayed with her two children. The inspectors were called after Patrolman Dan Mikus described deplorable conditions at the South Side rental property.
Mikus found the house without electricity and an inoperable toilet that had overflowed. Although the toilet didn't work, it was still being used -- children's footprints could be seen in the excrement on the floor.
Unsealed plastic trash bags, their spilled contents adding to the rancid smell, were everywhere. The living-room rug was smeared with human and animal feces and covered with cat litter.
Dave Nelson, Animal Charity humane investigator, rescued Rocco, a bulldog who had no food or water. The cat got away.
Shina's trial was reset several times as she went through at least two lawyers. When she failed to appear in court in February, a warrant was issued.
Liberty police found her hiding at her boyfriend's Millicent Avenue home in March and arrested her on the warrant.
Estranged husband's view
Her estranged husband, Brian Shina of Austintown, said everything she has told the police, prosecutor and judge about her situation is a lie. "I'm completely disgusted," he said.
He said she continues to work at her boyfriend's bar, even though she told the court she has no job. He said she only sees the children for a few hours each week and has only given him $100 toward their support in the past 21/2 months.
Brian Shina said it's not true that his wife's boyfriend beat her and forced her to sell and use drugs. "He's a nice guy ... she laid all the blame on him, but she chose to do drugs and turn her back on her kids," Shina said.
City Prosecutor Dionne M. Almasy questioned how Shina would know if his wife's boyfriend beat her and forced her to use drugs.
"I didn't get the impression she was blaming anyone," Almasy said. "She tested positive for using drugs after her plea in April. She wasn't looking forward to in-patient treatment or jail."
Almasy said she understands Brian Shina's anger.
Brian Shina said drug treatment isn't paying the price for what happened last summer and his wife should have received more jail time.
"I have to commend Judge Douglas," Almasy said. "I thought he did a good job with a well-thought-out sentence."
meade@vindy.com