TRUMBULL COUNTY Judge plans to stay on murder case

The judge said he can evaluate the probation officer's testimony.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- A judge will not remove himself from presiding over an aggravated-murder case in which a county probation officer is a key witness.
Judge Andrew Logan ruled Thursday in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court that he will continue to preside over Gentry Freeman's case.
Atty. Sarah Kovoor, who represents Freeman, asked the judge to remove himself because probation officer Vince Peterson works for the court. Kovoor said a visiting judge, who does not know Peterson, should preside.
The judge said that the witness being a probation officer isn't grounds for changing judges.
"Indeed, this would create the precedent of requiring a visiting court to hear all alleged probation violations," the judge wrote.
Judge Logan said he can "fairly and impartially" evaluate Peterson's testimony.
About the case
Freeman, 24, of Howland, faces charges of aggravated murder and kidnapping in the stabbing death of Denise Angelo, 35, of Warren, last April.
A day after police found Angelo's body near a creek off North Road, someone called Peterson, a Freeman family friend, and asked Peterson to talk to Gentry Freeman.
Peterson went to the home and asked Freeman to go with him to the city police station.
Freeman is being held in the county jail without bond. He told police he assaulted Angelo, but denied stabbing her.
sinkovich@vindy.com