Friday, May 23, 2003
Brian Persin pleaded innocent to assault and disorderly conduct Monday.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
NEWTON FALLS -- Newton Township police Chief Brian Persin told a judge he is innocent of assaulting one of his officers.
Persin entered innocent pleas Monday to charges of both assault and disorderly conduct.
The chief was allowed to leave the municipal court after posting a $1,000 bond. A pretrial hearing has been scheduled for 10:30 a.m. June 19.
If convicted of both charges, Persin could face up to seven months in the county jail and a $1,250 fine.
Persin, who was put on paid administrative leave Friday by township trustees, could not be reached.
Lt. Michael Maas, 45, of Hott West Road, filed a report with the Trumbull County Sheriff's Department, saying Persin assaulted him in his yard around 6 p.m. May 13.
Reports say Maas was mowing his lawn when Persin, who lives across the street, began making obscene gestures.
Maas said in his report that Persin was intoxicated.
The chief acknowledged pushing Maas, but denied the officer's other contentions and said he was not drunk.
Previous run-ins
The chief said he was angry that Maas and other officers said he had forged Alcoholics Anonymous documents.
He had been ordered to attend AA meetings two years ago after being convicted of a reckless-operation charge.
Maas lists two township trustees as witnesses to the confrontation -- Peter Augusta and Delbert Woloski.
Augusta declined to comment. Woloski has not returned several calls.
Persin, 32, who was appointed township chief last year, was involved in an accident and charged with DUI in May 2001.
At the time of the crash, Persin was a part-time police officer for Newton Falls but was not on duty.
Judge Thomas Old convicted Persin of a reduced charge of reckless operation.
sinkovich@vindy.com