TRUMBULL COUNTY Trial over robbery begins

The trial is expected to last about two days.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- A city's man robbery trial began moments after his attorney dismissed a motion asking to have the charge thrown out.
Jurors were selected Monday afternoon for John M. Reed's case, and testimony was expected to continue today. The trial in connection with a gas station robbery in Warren is expected to last about two days.
Reed's attorney, Anthony Consoldane, had filed a motion last week asking to have the case dismissed because he said he was not given enough time to meet with his client.
Asked for dismissal
However, during a brief hearing Tuesday in the courtroom of Judge Andrew Logan, Consoldane asked to have the motion dismissed.
"My client wanted to have the motion dismissed and is ready to proceed with trial," Consoldane said.
Reed, 36, of Deerfield, Warren, is being held in the county jail.
Consoldane said he still believes the sheriff's department discourages personal visits between him and his client.
"Every time I go there I get a hassle but this is not the time and place to bring it up," Consoldane said.
Sheriff's department officials denied Consoldane's allegations.
A department incident report says several employees said Consoldane acted unprofessionally and swore at guards when he went to the jail to visit Reed on Aug. 26.
Consoldane said he didn't swear but did become aggravated when he had to wait to visit with his client.
Consoldane had issued subpoenas for Prosecutor Dennis Watkins, Sheriff Thomas Altiere and Ernie Cook, chief of operations at the county jail, to appear at Tuesday's hearing. Since the motion was dismissed, the officials did not have to appear.
sinkovich@vindy.com