Men charged in beating with assault, burglary, kidnapping

By William K. Alcorn

Four were indicted after direct presentment of evidence by Mahoning County Prosecutor Paul J. Gains.

CAMPBELL — Five men charged in the June 24 kidnapping and beating of a 32-year-old Austintown man were indicted Thursday by a Mahoning County grand jury.

Four were indicted after direct presentment of evidence by Mahoning County Prosecutor Paul J. Gains. The fifth was bound over to the grand jury after a preliminary hearing in Campbell Municipal Court.

The suspects are charged with felonious assault, kidnapping and aggravated burglary in the attack of Seth M. Leach, of Ayrshire Drive, in a Campbell home on Blossom Avenue between midnight and 1 a.m.

The four indicted by direct presentment are:

Mark A. Ziemianski, 25, of South Navarre Avenue, Youngstown; James C. Riley III, 24, of Harold Lane, Campbell; Joseph R. Perry Sr., 61, of Tenney Avenue, Campbell; and Joseph R. Perry Jr., 39, of Peters Drive, Campbell.

Also indicted was Brandon T. Dotson, 25, of Selma Avenue, Youngstown.

Others originally charged in connection with the incident were not indicted Thursday.

According to Campbell police reports, Leach was visiting the former wife of one of the men charged, when five men forced their way into her home, beat and kicked Leach, then bound his hands and feet with duct tape. At that point, two more men came into the home and also beat and kicked the victim.

Leach spent several days in St. Elizabeth Health Center recovering from injuries, which included a jaw broken in two places and multiple cuts and bruises.

alcorn@vindy.com