Warren man cops plea in attack on woman, avoids trial

YOUNGSTOWN — A Warren man indicted on a list of charges, including rape and kidnapping, has entered a plea agreement that could land him on probation or in prison for more than nine decades.

Michael A. Harsch, 24, of Fourth Street, was set to go on trial today in the courtroom of Judge Maureen A. Sweeney of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court, but the last-minute agreement made a trial moot.

A county grand jury indicted Harsch in April on three counts each of aggravated burglary and kidnapping, two counts each of rape and aggravated robbery, and one count each of being a convicted felon with a gun, improperly handling a gun in a motor vehicle and failure to comply with a police order.

Under the terms of the plea agreement, prosecutors have agreed to drop the firearms specifications, one count of illegal possession of a weapon and one count of improperly handling a firearm in a motor vehicle.

Harsch has agreed to plead guilty to the remaining charges.

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