Mahoning jury deadlocks on rape charges against N.J. man, finds him guilty of menacing

YOUNGSTOWN — A jury today failed to find a 37-year-old New Jersey man guilty of raping his estranged wife, but did find him guilty of menacing.

Oscar Ponce's trial began late last week before a jury in the courtroom of Judge Maureen Sweeney of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court. He was charged with two counts of rape and one count of menacing by stalking.

Jurors had been deliberating in the case for more than two days this week before telling the court they were deadlocked and couldn’t agree on guilt or innocence on both counts of rape.

The jury did find Ponce guilty of menacing, but also found that he did not have a pattern of stalking his 32-year-old estranged wife.

Natasha Frenchko, an assistant county prosecutor, said she intends to try the case a second time in relation to the rape charges. No sentencing will be forthcoming until that second trial takes place.

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