Woman cited for living in uninhabitable dwelling

She and three other women will be back in court next month.

YOUNGSTOWN — A city housing code enforcement office cited a woman for living in a red-tagged house that hasn’t had water service since October 2005.

Diane Amill, 54, of 1345 Republic Ave., was arraigned Tuesday in municipal court on charges of discontinuance of service and criminal trespassing. She was released on her own recognizance. She is scheduled to appear in Judge Robert P. Milich’s housing court next Wednesday.

Three woman found on the East Side property Monday also were issued criminal trespassing citations. They are Beth Malone, 44, of Ewing Road, Boardman; Christine Madunicky, 30, of Tippecanoe Road, Canfield; and Salene Ballard, 38, of Park Vista Drive. They were released on their own recognizance and will be back in court March 12.

When questioned Monday, Amill admitted to police that she had no water or electric service, adding that she’s been renting the place from a man in prison.

Reports show the house was red-tagged in June 2007, deeming it uninhabitable, and that the water was shut off in October 2005 with a balance of $368 owed. When the house was tagged, Amill was told to get the water turned on or vacate the house, police said.

Last month, the housing code enforcement officer noticed that the red tag on the front door had been covered with a handwritten note that said “please use side door.” The note was removed and the side door red-tagged, too.

Police were sent to the address Monday after a report that people were inside smoking crack. No drugs were noted on the police report.