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Suspect in homicide gets prison for earlier crime
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Patrell Scott
YOUNGSTOWN
The city man accused of killing his 20-year-old girlfriend earlier this year has not been convicted of that crime but will be spending more than a year in prison on a previous crime.
Patrell Scott, 21, of Park Vista Drive, appeared Monday before Judge Maureen Sweeney of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court for a probation-violation hearing. He was on probation for attempted improper handling of a firearm from a 2008 incident when he reportedly shot his girlfriend in the neck in June.
Scott pleaded guilty to the improper handling charge in 2009 and was sentenced to two years’ probation and 50 hours of community service at the rescue mission.
Scott stipulated to a finding of guilt in relation to the probation-violation charge.
Prosecutors asked the court to impose a 12-month sentence “because of the nature of charges” against Scott. Attorney James Lanzo, representing Scott, asked the court for a lesser sentence and noted that his client has been in the county jail for 70 days.
Judge Sweeney gave Scott credit for the 70 days he has been in the county jail, but sentenced the man to 15 months in prison on the probation violation.
Scott simply shook his head when asked if he had anything to say to the court during the hearing.
Police were called to a shooting at 4:18 p.m. June 23 at 2430 Tyrell and found Melesia Day, 20, upstairs on the floor in her apartment. She’d been shot in the neck.
Scott was sitting on top of Day trying to talk to her and keep her alert. Scott and another man who was at the apartment told police a bullet had entered the apartment from outside, hit Day and then went into the ceiling.
Reports say officers found a shell casing in the apartment for which neither Scott nor the other man could offer an explanation.
Police also spoke to the apartment manager, who said the hole in the wall where police were told the bullet entered was “old damage.” A concerned citizen told police the shot definitely came from inside the apartment.
Officers arrested Scott on charges of felonious assault. Day was taken to St. Elizabeth Health Center where she survived in a coma for several days, but ultimately died from her injuries.
The shooting followed several past calls to police and family for fights between the couple.
Scott is scheduled to appear before Judge James C. Evans of Mahoning County Court on Nov. 4. His trial is slated to begin Nov. 14 before Judge Evans.