Warren man agrees to take plea agreement in felony case

WARREN -- A 28-year-old city man has accepted a plea agreement to reduced charges after a key witness in his case failed to appear for trial.
Michael A. Santagata of Belvedere Avenue Southeast agreed to plead guilty Monday to two fourth-degree felonies -- carrying a concealed weapon and improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle. He could get from six to 18 months in prison on each charge.
Lawyers were partway through jury selection on a more serious charge of felonious assault with a firearm specification and a charge of intimidation when it became apparent the witness was not going to appear.
After accepting Santagata's plea on the reduced charges, Judge John H. Stuard agreed to issue a warrant for the arrest of the witness, David Wolfe of McDonald, on a charge of contempt of court.
Santagata's charges stem from a situation June 23, 2004, in which he is accused of firing from a vehicle in the direction of a Leavittsburg man at a home on Mauro Circle in Niles. The man was not hit.
Santagata will be sentenced after a presentence investigation.
Meanwhile, a 27-year-old Youngstown man has been secretly indicted and charged with the rape of a 2-year-old girl in Trumbull County. Salvator C. Auriemma of Murray Hill Drive, appeared before Judge Peter Kontos Monday.
He pleaded innocent to the charge and was released after posting $250,000 bond. If convicted, he faces 10 years to life in prison. He is set to appear before Judge Stuard May 4 for a pretrial hearing.