TRUMBULL COUNTY Jury finds suspect guilty of 5 charges

The defendant faces a maximum of 35 years in prison.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- A jury deliberated a little more than 40 minutes before convicting a Sharon, Pa., man of five charges, including felonious assault.
The jury returned the guilty verdict in Jamal Derek Strickland's case shortly before noon Thursday. Strickland was convicted on charges of aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, kidnapping, felonious assault and tampering with evidence.
Strickland, 30, of Cedar Avenue, faces a maximum of 35 years in prison, said David Toepfer, an assistant Trumbull County prosecutor. He will be sentenced after a background investigation is completed by the county adult probation department.
Police said Strickland beat and robbed a clerk at the Niles Book and News.
Strickland's trial began Tuesday in the courtroom of Judge W. Wyatt McKay.
"I think the conviction was a direct result of some quick thinking and quick acting by the Niles police department and a citizen," Toepfer said.
Strickland is being held in the county jail.
What happened
Police said Strickland entered the store on Youngstown-Warren Road shortly before 4 a.m. April 12, beat and kicked clerk Clarence W. Leet Jr. of Vienna, and took $62 and several adult movies and magazines. Police say they believe Strickland used a fire extinguisher to hit Leet.
Leet spent several days at St. Elizabeth Health Center, Youngstown.
Police located Strickland after a newspaper deliveryman, who drove up to the store and saw the robbery in progress, gave a description of Strickland's vehicle. When police stopped Strickland on state Route 46, he was spattered with blood and had adult movies in his sport-utility vehicle.
Reports say Strickland told police his friend committed the robbery.
sinkovich@vindy.com