Youngstown man found guilty of domestic violence

The man will be sentenced later.

YOUNGSTOWN — A 27-year-old city man was convicted of felony domestic violence for getting too involved in a fight between his girlfriend and his son’s mother.

A jury found Robert Bell of Taft Avenue guilty of the third-degree felony after a three-day trial in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.

He will be sentenced later by Judge Timothy E. Franken and could receive up to five years in prison.

In closing arguments, Dawn Kruger, an assistant county prosecutor, said the offense occurred in July.

Shaniqua Rosemond, 21, of Humbolt Avenue, Youngstown, and Nakesha Hopson, 26, of Taft Avenue, fought outside of Rosemond’s home. Kruger said Bell punched Rosemond in the eye and encouraged Hopson to assault her, too.

Both acts qualify as domestic violence, she said.

The charge is a felony in this case, she noted, because Bell has two previous domestic violence convictions.

A Youngstown police report says Rosemond suffered a swollen eye and a cut lip.

Jeffrey Limbian, Bell’s attorney, said it was impossible to tell whether Bell struck Rosemond because it was dark and because someone had sprayed Mace in the air. Rosemond herself testified she didn’t know for sure Bell struck her, Limbian said in closing arguments.

Kruger said it’s apparent that Bell did punch Rosemond because at some point she suffered a much harder blow than what Hopson had struck her with previously. And, Bell was standing nearby at the time.