COURT Costanzo asks court to OK psychological evaluation

The attorney remains in federal custody.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
CLEVELAND -- An attorney accused of trying to hire a hit man to kill her estranged husband has asked for a psychological evaluation.
The request for Atty. Maridee Costanzo was made Monday in U.S. District Court in Cleveland.
Attys. Tom Zena of Boardman and David L. Doughten of Cleveland are representing Costanzo.
Zena said he did not know when the evaluation would take place or how long it would take to get the report. Costanzo, 46, remains in federal custody.
During Monday's hearing, Costanzo also signed a motion waiving her right to have an indictment filed within 30 days of her arrest.
"She's doing a little better [emotionally] ... she was a little upbeat today," Zena said. He did not know when another hearing will be scheduled.
FBI agents arrested Costanzo in April in the parking lot of Trumbull County Family Court. Costanzo is also facing a felony charge of carrying a concealed weapon in a case that was bound over to a Trumbull County grand jury last month.
Seeks to suspend law license
Atty. Randil J. Rudloff, counsel for the Trumbull County Bar Association, filed an 11-page motion with the state Supreme Court last week asking it to suspend Costanzo's law license. The Supreme Court has not acted on the matter.
A 14-page affidavit filed by prosecutors in U.S. District Court states that a source told FBI agents that Costanzo had been trying to hire him or someone to kill her estranged husband, Roger Bauer. The source also said that he provided OxyContin pills and powder cocaine to Costanzo.
The affidavit further states that the source tape-recorded numerous conversations with Costanzo in which she repeatedly says she wants to have Bauer killed.
The affidavit states Costanzo paid the source $1,100 and promised to pay the rest in a few days. It also says Costanzo provided the source with a picture of Bauer.
sinkovich@vindy.com