Trumbull will appeal spanking cop ruling

WARREN — The Trumbull County Prosecutor’s Office says it will file an appeal with the Ohio Supreme Court challenging a ruling by the 11th District Court of Appeals that overturned 17 of 18 convictions against former Howland police officer James Martin.

LuWayne Annos, an assistant Trumbull County prosecutor who handles appeals cases, said the office has filed a request for a stay of execution of the appeals court’s ruling.

The stay essentially would forestall the resentencing of Martin based on the appeals court’s ruling, which upheld one of Martin’s convictions for operating a juvenile diversion program that involved paddling young males.

The ruling, handed down this week, said the one remaining misdemeanor conviction would be returned to Trumbull County Common Pleas Court Judge Andrew Logan for resentencing.

The appeals court overturned 12 counts of using a sham legal process and five counts of dereliction of duty for various aspects of the program.