Warren man to serve 4 years for torture

STAFF REPORT

WARREN — Stephen N. DeSantis, one of three men charged with torturing a Warren man over a $50 drug debt, has been sentenced to four years in prison.

The two other men charged in the crime — DeSantis’ son, Michael A. DeSantis, and Brandon Finney, both of Warren — already are serving prison terms. Michael DeSantis got five years, and Finney received a three-year sentence.

Stephen DeSantis, 48, of South Street, was sentenced Thursday in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court to three years in prison for kidnapping and felonious assault and one year on a specification that he used a gun.

Each of the three men was indicted on charges of felonious assault and kidnapping of Shane DeSmith, who police said owed them $50 for marijuana.

DeSmith was tortured in the basement of the DeSantis home after being abducted at gunpoint.

DeSmith said he was tortured for seven hours with various tools, including an electric grinder and hot screwdriver.