MAHONING COUNTY Grand jury indicts woman in stabbing case

The woman was reportedly trying to stab her son.
By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR COURTHOUSE REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- A Mahoning County grand jury handed up an indictment against a West Chalmers Avenue woman accused of stabbing her daughter.
She also was sent to prison earlier Thursday for unrelated drug charges.
Annette Moreland, 41, is charged with felonious assault and domestic violence.
Authorities said Moreland stabbed her 18-year-old daughter, Cierra Berry, during an altercation at their Chalmers home on the city's South Side on Aug. 21. Berry was treated at St. Elizabeth Health Center for what police said were minor stab wounds.
The domestic violence count is for an assault on Moreland's son, Deletaire White, 23, the same day.
The victims told police Moreland had been smoking crack cocaine and drinking for three days before she "flipped out" the day of the assaults. Moreland told police she was trying to stab her son but the daughter got in the way, a police report says.
Earlier indictment
Moreland had previously been indicted in common pleas court for a fifth-degree felony count of possessing cocaine. She pleaded guilty in July and was free on bond awaiting trial at the time she is accused of committing the assaults on her family.
Because of the felonious assault and domestic violence charges against her, Judge R. Scott Krichbaum revoked Moreland's bond and ordered her held in jail until her sentencing, which was Thursday.
Defense attorney Michael Gollings said Moreland's problems are rooted in her severe addictions to alcohol and crack cocaine. He asked that she be placed on probation and into a substance abuse treatment program instead of prison.
"I do need help with my addictions to alcohol and crack," Moreland told the judge.
"I'm not your friend or your helper," Judge Krichbaum said. "I'm the judge that has to decide what to do with you after you've committed crime after crime after crime."
He said Moreland has a long criminal history and probation has not worked in the past. He sentenced her to eight months in a state penitentiary and suspended her driver's license for two years.
bjackson@vindy.com