43
Homicide, rape trials get started
Opening statements in the rape case will be at 9 a.m. today.
YOUNGSTOWN — Jury trials began Monday in aggravated vehicular homicide and rape cases in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.
Jurors were selected for Michael J. Behanna’s trial on an aggravated vehicular homicide charge before Judge Maureen A. Sweeney.
Behanna, 29, of North Brockway Avenue, is charged in an Oct. 6, 2006, crash on North Hazelwood Avenue near Russell Avenue, in which Wendy Manis, 25, of Austintown, suffered fatal injuries.
Police said the car Behanna was driving struck the car Manis was driving as she backed out of her boyfriend’s driveway.
Jurors were to view the accident scene this morning; and opening statements from the prosecuting and defense lawyers were to follow.
Behanna faces three to 10 years in prison if convicted of the aggravated vehicular homicide charge.
The case is being prosecuted by Robert E. Bush Jr., chief of the criminal division in the county prosecutor’s office, and Dionne M. Almasy, assistant county prosecutor. The defense lawyer is John F. Shultz.
In the other criminal case, a six-man, six-woman jury, with one female alternate, was seated Monday before Judge R. Scott Krichbaum for Michael Kaufman’s trial on six counts of rape, four counts of gross sexual imposition and one count of felonious sexual penetration. Prosecuting and defense lawyers will make opening statements in that case today.
Kaufman, 40, of Berkshire Drive, allegedly committed the crimes in Mahoning County against two male relatives while they were between the ages of 8 and 11. The victims, who are now 15 and 20 years old, live in Wisconsin and are expected to testify for the prosecution.
The older victim lived in the Mahoning Valley when the offenses occurred, but the younger victim has always lived in Wisconsin, and the offenses against him occurred when he made summer visits here.
If convicted of any of the rape counts, or of the felonious sexual penetration offense, which was allegedly committed against the older victim, Kaufman could receive a life prison term. Each gross sexual imposition count carries one to five years in prison upon conviction.
The case against Kaufman is being prosecuted by J. Michael Thompson and Natasha K. Frenchko, assistant county prosecutors. John B. Juhasz is the defense lawyer.
milliken@vindy.com