Man confined to mental facility to get outside 15 minutes a day

The defendant opened fire on two women 16 years ago.

WARREN — A 42-year-old man found innocent by reason of insanity of a 1991 murder and attempted murder will now have slightly more freedom in a Massillon mental facility.

He’ll be able to get 15 minutes of fresh air daily.

Judge Peter Kontos of Trumbull County Common Pleas Court granted James Hubbard more freedom Monday based on a psychiatric report from the staff of the facility, Heartland Behavioral Healthcare.

Hubbard, who was from Warren and Hubbard, was found innocent by reason of insanity in 1993 by then Judge Mitchell Shaker.

He had been indicted in the murder of Sallie Beaty of Niles and the attempted murder of Lori Kirkwood of Austintown.

On Sept. 12, 1991, Kirkwood was in her car on Ridge Road in Weathersfield Township when she was fired upon. The rounds struck the car, but she was unharmed.

The same day, Beatty was sitting in her car having lunch at Taco Bell on Youngstown Road when shots were fired at her. She died of her wounds.

Hubbard was sent to the facility in Massillon.

Diane Barber, an assistant county prosecutor, explained that defendants who are found innocent by reason of insanity must have their cases reviewed every two years.

Barber said that Hubbard was in Heartland under the most restrictive status. He had progressed to a less severe level of restriction so he can go outside onto the facility grounds for 15 minutes without supervision.

In 2004, Barber said, Hubbard broke the institution rules and was again confined to the most restrictive care.

Although still mentally ill, he can again be on the facility grounds for 15 minutes daily with supervision rather than staying in his ward all of the time, Barber said.