Mahoning grand jury indicts group home resident for death

YOUNGSTOWN — A Mahoning County grand jury has indicted a group home resident on a murder charge in the March 11 choking death of another resident.

The grand jury today indicted James R. DiCioccio, 50, of the Illinois Avenue group home, who remains jailed on $1 million bond. DiCiocco is accused of choking Stephen A. Lawson, 34, during a fight at the group home for mentally ill men. Lawson died soon after the fight in St. Elizabeth Health Center.

Also indicted was Dr. Gregory S. Dew, 45, of Kelly Park Road, Columbiana, a chiropractor, who was charged with three counts of sexual battery. Dr. Dew, who is free on $8,000 bond, was charged with having sexual contact with a girl he was coaching at the Youngstown Gymnastic Center in Boardman beginning when she was 15 in 1990 and ending in 1992. The charges pertain to events that occurred before he became a chiropractor.

For the rest of the story, see Friday's Vindicator and Vindy.com.