Man who assaulted bartender gets 30 days

staff report

NILES — A man who punched a bartender two times in the face while trying to steal the tip jar from a Niles tavern has been sentenced to 30 days in Trumbull County Jail.

Joseph A. Moore, 24, who has addresses in Braceville Township and Warren, pleaded no contest Wednesday in Niles Municipal Court to an amended charge of assault, a first-degree misdemeanor.

Moore originally was charged with robbery, a felony, punishable by up to eight years in prison.

Police said Moore tried to walk out of Cleary’s, a tavern at 1216 North Main St., with the tip jar about 2:30 a.m. Feb. 3, but an employee followed and got the jar back. In the process, however, Moore punched the employee twice in the face, police said.

Moore was stopped a short distance away on a traffic violation by a trooper from the Ohio State Highway Patrol, and Niles police arrested him there.

Acting Judge John Gargano found Moore guilty and sentenced him to six months in jail with all but 30 days suspended. Moore gets credit for nine days already served in jail but was ordered to pay a $250 fine and $113 in court costs.