Arrest tape hearing slated for Wednesday

Arrest tape hearing
slated for Wednesday

CANFIELD — A hearing on a motion to release the videotaped arrest of a retired common pleas judge on a drunken-driving charge will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday in Mahoning County Area Court with Judge Scott D. Hunter presiding. A lawyer representing Maureen Cronin, 54, of Canfield Road, was successful last week in temporarily barring release of the videotape, saying Cronin has a right to a jury pool that has not been “tainted with prior knowledge of the evidence in the case.” A lawyer representing The Vindicator and WFMJ-TV 21 filed a motion asking that the tape, a public record, be released. Cronin retired from the Mahoning County common pleas bench in July. She pleaded guilty to OVI, operating a vehicle impaired, in April 2005 in Boardman.

Charged at bar

YOUNGSTOWN — The bartender and two patrons from Boardman were issued citations related to underage drinking at The Cell, 221 Belmont Ave., around 12:30 a.m. Sunday. Agents with the Ohio Department of Public Safety charged Randall S. Shields, 27, of Chestnut Street, Struthers, with furnishing intoxicating liquor to a person under age 21. The patrons, Amy E. Schmid, 19, of Afton Avenue, and Erin R. Sotkovsky, 20, of Sciota Avenue, were charged with underage possession of an intoxicating liquor. All three are due in municipal court at 10 a.m. Sept. 17 for arraignment.

Too-personal pictures

YOUNGSTOWN — A check of a camera phone found on a city school bus revealed at least five photos of a penis and four of a female’s clothed crotch area, police said. The cell phone was found on a bus that transports pupils to Summit Academy, an elementary school, and was turned over to an assistant principle last week. The assistant principal put the phone in his desk, thinking someone would claim it. He checked the contents after receiving complaints from parents who reported seeing “pictures of people’s privates.” The photo of a 10-year-old boy who attends the school was also found on the phone. The phone was placed in an evidence locker and the case referred to the juvenile division.

Meeting to be reset

POLAND — Western Reserve Joint Fire District’s meeting set for Wednesday has been canceled and will be rescheduled for a date later this month.

Beating victim critical

YOUNGSTOWN — Four men who appeared “amped up” and were denied service at a Mahoning Avenue bar when they failed to provide identification were then seen punching and kicking 30-year-old Paul A. Mounce in a parking lot just west of the bar in the 2400 block around 1:15 a.m. Sunday, reports show. A second victim was reportedly able to run away. Mounce, of Manchester Avenue, was taken to St. Elizabeth Health Center with multiple broken bones, head trauma, several cuts and possible internal injuries, police said. He was in critical condition Monday. At least one of the suspects has been identified for police.

Meeting date moved

MINERAL RIDGE — Weathersfield Township trustees have changed the date of their regular meeting this month from today at 7 p.m. to Sept. 18 in the township administration building.

2 robbed on S. Avenue

YOUNGSTOWN — A man and woman standing outside a bar in the 3300 block of South Avenue were robbed at gunpoint around 1 a.m. Sunday, reports show. The victims said a gunman dressed all in black with a white and black scarf over his face came around a corner and demanded money. They gave up what they had and the robber ran.