Man arraigned in beating, shooting at his girlfriend

STAFF REPORT

YOUNGSTOWN — The man accused of beating his girlfriend and firing three shots at her was arraigned Wednesday 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 illegally having a weapon (based on a previous conviction).

Howell told the magistrate he is not employed, has no car, no checking or savings accounts 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 also was 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.

Howell was arrested just before noon Tuesday when members of the Crime Suppression Unit saw him on Erie Street near Williamson Avenue.