PADDLING CASE Grand jury to convene

The police chief was not subpoenaed to appear, his attorney says.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- A Trumbull County grand jury is expected to convene today to hear testimony concerning the Fowler Township police chief, accused of paddling teenagers as part of a diversion program.
An FBI agent, several police officers and one of the teens who took part in the program are scheduled to testify.
Atty. Dominic Vitantonio, who represents Chief James Martin, said his client was not subpoenaed to appear.
Martin, who is also a captain on the Howland Police Department, was suspended from both jobs last week.
Under investigation
The FBI and agents from the state Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation are investigating Martin.
Howland Police Chief Paul Monroe wrote a letter to Martin last month stating that FBI agent Ronald Helmick told him that agents were investigating Martin for possible criminal charges and civil rights violations.
Martin has not been charged.
Vitantonio has said that he does not believe Martin will face any criminal charges.
He said that Martin used corporal punishment in his diversion program only in limited cases and that when paddling was used, the juvenile and parents both agreed.
Lawsuit filed
Atty. Sarah Kovoor, who represents a teenage boy suing Martin, said she believes the use of paddling was improper. Her client was forced to take off his pants and had welts when the paddling was finished, she said.
She noted that the children being paddled were also videotaped.
Vitantonio, however, stressed that the reason the paddlings were videotaped was to protect everyone's rights.
Vitantonio says he has not yet seen the tapes. The tapes have been confiscated by law enforcement officials who searched Martin's home and office.
Martin could not be reached for comment.
sinkovich@vindy.com