Man charged in shooting agrees to lesser charge in plea deal

Staff report

LISBON

A man originally charged in a shooting will do time for lesser charges.

The defendant, David J.C. Duffy, 19, of Steubenville Pike Road in Center Township, was charged with shooting Joshua L. Rudder, 20, in the shoulder about 2:15 a.m. Feb. 22. Duffy was residing in a trailer on Steubenville Pike Road and wanted people to leave.

Rudder and several other men and women refused. Witnesses told deputies from the Columbiana County sheriff’s office that Duffy shot Rudder in the shoulder. He has since recovered.

Duffy originally was charged with felonious assault. That was reduced to a lesser charge of aggravated assault in a plea agreement.

While in the Columbiana County Jail awaiting trial on the shooting charge, Duffy kicked and spit on a jailer and spit on a nurse. He pleaded guilty to one charge of assault and two counts of harassment with a bodily substance. He was sentenced 18 months in jail.

Defense lawyer Doug King said Duffy has served about 71/2 months while awaiting trial and has about 10 more months to serve.