Hester Howell gets lengthy prison term for attack on girlfriend

YOUNGSTOWN — A city man convicted of kidnapping and assaulting his former girlfriend has been sentenced to seven years in prison.

Hester Howell Jr., 40, appeared today before Judge Lou D’Apolito of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court for sentencing on charges of misdemeanor assault and kidnapping. A jury found the South Side man guilty of the charges in April, but found him not guilty of attempted murder and felonious assault.

Howell was facing a maximum of 101⁄2 years in prison on the kidnapping and assault charges, plus an additional three years for a gun specification attached to the charges.

Howell has been incarcerated in the county jail for 764 days.

For the complete story, see Thursday's Vindicator and Vindy.com