TRUMBULL COUNTY Costanzo enters no plea in weapons case

She is not allowed to be on North Road between East Market and Route 422.
HOWLAND -- A long-time Warren lawyer entered no plea Monday to a carrying a concealed weapon charge.
Maridee Costanzo, 46, of Warren appeared for arraignment before Judge Terry Ivanchak of Warren Municipal Court, represented by Atty. Thomas Zena.
The car she was riding in was stopped by Howland police about 1 a.m. Saturday for a routine traffic citation.
Moments before, Costanzo's estranged husband had called police saying someone caused damage to his garage door and front window on North Road. Atty. Roger Bauer told police that he felt the damage may have been done by his estranged wife. Costanzo has not been charged in that matter.
The car Costanzo was riding in was stopped about a block from Bauer's North Road home.
According to reports, Costanzo had a loaded .38-caliber handgun in the front of her jeans. Police also found another gun under the passenger side seat. She told police that the guns belonged to the driver of the vehicle, William Cindea, 56, of Warren.
Cindea also was in municipal court Monday before Magistrate Daniel Gerin. He pleaded innocent to three carrying a concealed weapon charges and one charge of driving under suspension.
Cindea said he too is represented by Zena.
What she said
"I do not own a gun, and I would have never got in that car had I known he had guns in there," said Costanzo, after her court appearance.
"When we got stopped, Cindea was looking for his registration and the guns fell out. I panicked," she said. "This man helped me pay my electric bills and keep my phone connected. I panicked, and I tried to help him."
Costanzo said she is planning to take a polygraph test and will state that the guns did not belong to her. She added that she did not damage Bauer's home.
Costanzo, whose charge is a felony, is free on a $5,000 surety bond; Cindea's surety bond of $6,000 also was continued but he is being held on outstanding warrants in Pennsylvania. The charges on the warrants were not immediately available.
A condition of Costanzo's bond is that she cannot be on North Road between East Market Street and U.S. Route 422. She was also ordered to stay away from Bauer, expect when the two have to work on cases together.
Bauer and Costanzo share a law office.
Costanzo and Cindea are scheduled to return to court April 18.
Police reports state Cindea had a stun gun in the pocket of his jacket and a 4-inch knife in the front pocket of his jeans.
Howland police officers at the court Monday said they could not discuss the case in greater detail.
Costanzo had been a public defender for several years. However, the state public defender's commission did not renew her contract in June. Costanzo ran unsuccessfully in the May 2002 Democratic primary for Congress.