Youngstown man gets prison term for domestic violence

Youngstown man gets prison term for domestic violence

YOUNGSTOWN— A 27-year-old man is going to prison for four years for domestic violence for getting too involved in a fight between his girlfriend and his son’s mother last July.

Judge Timothy E. Franken of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court imposed the sentence today on Robert Bell of Taft Avenue, who was convicted of the third-degree felony by a jury after a three-day trial in November.

Shaniqua Rosemond, 21, of Humbolt Avenue, and Nakesha Hopson, 26, of Taft Avenue, fought outside Rosemond’s home. Dawn Krueger, assistant county prosecutor, said Bell punched Rosemond in the eye and encouraged Hopson to assault her, too. Both acts qualify as domestic violence, Krueger said.

Rosemond suffered a swollen eye and a cut lip, police said. The charge against Bell was a felony because he has two previous domestic violence convictions.

Bell’s lawyer, John J. Limbian, said an appeal will be filed. “We do not believe there was any credible evidence that he struck anyone or caused anyone any physical harm,” Limbian explained.