MAHONING COUNTY Man pleads guilty to stabbing

Prosecutors are recommending an eight-year prison sentence.
By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR COURTHOUSE REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Rodney Smallwood's ex-girlfriend took him in to stay with her because she felt sorry for him, even though he was supposed to be nowhere near her.
When she finally told him to leave June 19, 2003, he became angry and stabbed her 10 times.
Smallwood, 41, of Hawthorne Street, Struthers, pleaded guilty Thursday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court to one count of felonious assault.
Assistant Prosecutor Dawn Krueger said she will recommend the maximum sentence of eight years in prison when Smallwood is eventually sentenced by Judge Maureen A. Cronin.
As part of a plea agreement, the judge dismissed a charge of attempted murder.
Victim survived
The victim, 39-year-old Conie J. Malovec, survived despite being stabbed four times in the back and six times in the chest. Malovec was initially listed in critical condition at St. Elizabeth Health Center but was upgraded and released less than a week later.
Defense attorney Thomas Zena said Smallwood initially told police that an intruder had stabbed Malovec after breaking into their home. Smallwood later admitted stabbing his girlfriend.
Police found a knife believed to have been used in the attack under a living room chair.
Court order
Krueger said Smallwood previously had been convicted of domestic violence for assaulting Malovec and had a court order barring him from being near her.
But she said Malovec felt sorry for Smallwood because he had nowhere else to stay, so she allowed him to stay in her house on Hawthorne. When Malovec eventually told Smallwood to pack up and leave, he became angry.
"I just don't think he wanted it to end. They started arguing and he came at her from behind with a knife," Krueger said. "He stabbed her and then he held her and told her to just relax and calm down."
Krueger said Smallwood would not summon help for Malovec because he did not want to be arrested. She said Malovec offered to tell authorities that someone else had stabbed her.
"She had to get the whole story straight before he could call 911," Krueger said.
bjackson@vindy.com