Brookfield man pleads innocent to additional charges

STAFF REPORT

WARREN — Damion C. Wise, 30, of Everett East Road, Brookfield Township, pleaded innocent Monday in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court to the eight new charges handed up against him by a county grand jury on Friday.

Among the eight is one count of rape, which carries a possible life sentence if convicted. Wise’s indictment alleges he raped his 8-year-old stepson sometime during the three to four months he, his wife, infant son and stepson lived in Brookfield.

The other charges added together carry a penalty of 44 more years in prison if convicted. They include felonious assault — one on Aug. 21 and one at some other point this summer — and seven counts of endangering children. One of those charges purportedly occurred Aug, 20, two of them Aug. 21 and the rest during an specified date during the summer.

Wise was arrested and his stepson removed and taken to the hospital Aug. 22 after a caller told police about the boy’s injuries. The boy and his 5-month-old brother are in the care of the Trumbull County Children Services Board.

The boy told police Aug. 22 that Wise had beaten him with a small baseball bat and his fist, stuck his fingers down the boy’s throat and threatened to maim or kill him. The boy had black eyes, facial swelling and bruises on his hand, arm, chest, back and stomach, police said.

Judge Peter Kontos doubled Wise’s bond Monday from $250,000 to $500,000.