Beating victim testifies

Beating victim testifies

The torture victim says he could smell his own flesh burning.

By TIM YOVICH

Vindicator Trumbull staff

WARREN — The 25-year-old victim of a severe, seven-hour beating Feb. 24 had been staying in the home of two of the men accused of taking part in his torture.

Shane DeSmith testified about his beating Wednesday in the courtroom of municipal Judge Thomas Gysegem.

Afterward, Brandon Finney, 20, of North Mecca Street, Cortland, was bound over to a Trumbull County grand jury on kidnapping and felonious assault charges.

On Tuesday, Stephen H. DeSantis, 47, and his son, Michael A. DeSantis, 22, both of 928 South St., were bound over to the grand jury on similar charges.

A juvenile by the name of “Huey” is being held in the Trumbull County Juvenile Justice Center for his reported participation.

During questioning Wednesday by Traci Timko-Rose, an assistant city prosecutor, 25-year-old DeSmith said he met the DeSantises about two weeks before the beating when he began staying at their house.

He testified that he owed them $50 for marijuana and he had the money to pay his debt.

While walking along Porter Street, DeSmith told the court, he flagged down the father and son in their pickup truck.

DeSmith testified that Michael DeSantis pulled out a gun and DeSmith was forced into the truck, driven to their South Street home and dragged to the basement.

During the hearing, DeSmith told the court they didn’t want the $50 he owed. “They said it was the principle [of the issue]. It wasn’t good enough.”

He testified that he was tied to a yellow chair with yellow rope, his arms to his side.

Stephen DeSantis then left the basement. “He didn’t want to be part of the torture, I guess,” DeSmith testified.

DeSmith, who walks with a limp, said a grinder was used to cut through his shoe and injured two toes. He was burned with a torch and heated screwdriver and received a head burn from a heated mason jar. A sledgehammer was used to strike his knees.

“You could smell the flesh burning,” he said.

At one point, DeSmith said, Michael DeSantis received a telephone call from a man DeSantis referred to as the “cut doctor.” A short time late, Finney arrived.

DeSmith told the court that Michael DeSantis told him that Finney “planned to take you to the country and dump you.”

DeSmith said that Finney broke a beer bottle over his head and then dumped water on him before shocking him with a battery.

Still while in the basement, DeSmith said Finney wanted to use a pair of snips to cut off an ear or finger, but Michael DeSantis objected and it wasn’t done.

“I was hoping, praying they were going to let me go,” DeSmith said.

He was eventually driven to his mother’s Leavittsburg home and dropped off.

“I staggered into the house. I was unrecognizable,” he testified.

During cross-examination by Atty. Patrick Donlin of Warren, DeSmith denied that he owed more than $50 to the DeSantises for marijuana and cocaine.

DeSmith told Donlin that Finney gave him a drink of water during his ordeal and refused to inflict more punishment when ordered by Michael DeSantis. DeSmith also said he had served jail time for forgery and receiving stolen property.

In attempting to get the kidnapping charge dismissed, Donlin told the court that there was not evidence that Finney had any part in the actual kidnapping. The motion was denied by Judge Gysegem.

Donlin also attempted to get Finney’s bond reduced from $250,000 to $50,000. But Judge Gysegem agreed with Timko-Rose that Finney had not shown up previously for court appearances.

yovich@vindy.com