MAHONING COUNTY Woman guilty in assault

The woman wrestled with a patient who broke her necklace.
By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR COURTHOUSE REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- A city woman, arrested more than four years ago after being accused of fighting with a mental patient for whom she was caring, was placed on probation for one year Monday.
Unika C. Moore, 25, of East Ravenwood Avenue, pleaded guilty Monday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court to one misdemeanor count of assault. It was reduced from patient abuse, a fourth-degree felony for which she was indicted in April 2000.
Judge Charles J. Bannon sentenced Moore to 30 days in the county jail, then suspended the sentence and placed her on probation for one year. The sentence had been recommended by county Assistant Prosecutor Robert Andrews.
Judge Bannon is a visiting judge serving by assignment of the Ohio Supreme Court.
Authorities said Moore was working as a caregiver for Gateways to Better Living in Austintown in November 1999 when the assault happened. Boardman police said she got into an argument with a male patient, who reached across the table at a Boardman restaurant and broke a necklace she was wearing.
Defense attorney Robert J. Rohrbaugh II said the patient became physical with Moore, and she reacted with "coping" techniques to get him under control.
"My client reacted and did what she thought was best," Rohrbaugh said. "Did she overreact? Apparently so, because she is standing here [in court] today."
Rohrbaugh said he recommended that Moore accept the plea agreement because a conviction on the original sentence would carry a penalty of up to 18 months in prison.
Moore, who has a 2-year-old daughter, said she has not been able to get decent job since her arrest. She hoped that the plea will allow her to put the case behind her and find a job.
bjackson@vindy.com