Woman makes court appearance in hit-skip case

WARREN

Nicole Dowell, charged with leaving the scene of an accident after 12-year-old Camorin A. McGhee was struck as he stepped into the crosswalk on Tod Avenue Southwest Jan. 7, was arraigned Tuesday in Warren Municipal Court.

Judge Terry Ivanchak entered a plea of innocent for the 22-year-old woman to the charge of leaving the scene, a fifth-degree felony, and committing a traffic-signal violation, a minor misdemeanor.

Dowell’s attorney, Nancy E. Yakubek, told the court Dowell is an honor student at Ashland College and reminded the court that she had come to court Tuesday morning voluntarily. It was Dowell’s first court appearance since the accident.

Judge Ivanchak set Dowell’s bond at $10,000 personal recognizance, meaning Dowell didn’t have to pay anything to remain free pending her next court hearing, 2 p.m. Feb. 14.

Dowell left court with Yakubek and a number of supporters. Dowell cried as she stood in the hallway with them.

Yakubek said she had no further comment regarding Dowell or her background. Warren Municipal Court, Trumbull County jail and county common pleas court records indicate Dowell has had no previous traffic or criminal record.