$1.75 million bond set in beating case

YOUNGSTOWN — The man accused of beating his girlfriend and firing three shots at her was arraigned today in municipal court.

Magistrate Tony Sertick Jr. set bond at $1.75 million for Hester Howell Jr., 38, on charges of kidnapping, felonious assault and having a weapon under disability (based on a previous conviction which means he can’t own firearms). Howell told the magistrate that he is not employed, has no car, no checking or savings and is homeless. A lawyer will be appointed to represent him. Bret Hartup, an assistant city prosecutor, said in court that Howell’s criminal record includes assault and robbery convictions. Hartup told the magistrate that Howell is a flight risk.

Howell was also arraigned on three traffic charges for failure to appear in court in May. Bond on those charges was set at $6,000.

Howell’s 41-year-old girlfriend said he made her take off her clothes early Tuesday, beat her and fired an assault-type firearm between her legs inside his residence at 1823 Glenwood Ave. on the South Side. It wasn’t immediately clear why Howell described himself in court as homeless.

The girlfriend managed to escape and a passing motorist took her to a pay phone to call police. She was treated at St. Elizabeth Health Center.