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Mother, daughter plead guilty
YOUNGSTOWN
A mother and daughter charged with felonies for their involvement in a melee last year involving an assault with pots and pans and the attempted use of a gun have pleaded guilty to reduced charges.
They entered their pleas Monday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.
Police arrested Shalena Clark, 38, her daughter Rayshawnda Clark, 20, and Darlesha Jones, 19, after an ongoing feud between two groups of women that ended with the attempted use of a gun in July 2011.
Rayshawnda Clark had been charged with attempted murder, three counts of felonious assault and two counts of criminal damaging. Her mother, Shalena Clark, had been charged with two counts of attempted murder.
Both Clarks entered into agreements with prosecutors where they agreed to plead guilty to three counts of aggravated assault. They could each be sentenced up to 41/2 years in prison.
Prosecutors are asking the court to hand down any prison term the court deems necessary. Judge James C. Evans will sentence the women in September.
Jones, of Brooklyn Avenue, had been charged with one count of complicity to felonious assault, but entered into a plea agreement earlier this month that reduced the charge to aggravated assault. She faces 18 months in prison. Her sentencing is set before Judge Evans on Sept. 20.
A witness at an earlier court hearing described a day full of violent episodes between the Clarks, Jones and three other women beginning in the early morning hours when Rayshawnda Clark reportedly used a large wrench to break out the windows of a Ford Explorer belonging to another woman.
The witness said Rayshawnda Clark also cut her with a pair of scissors.
The witness told the court the violence continued later that same day with the Clark women allegedly hurling rocks at an Avondale Avenue home while the three victims in the case slept inside.
The witness told the court the day culminated at the Brooklyn Avenue home where the Clarks and Jones lived. She said she and her mother went to the home to speak with the women about the ongoing feud, but a fight broke out.
The witness said one of her friends was beaten with pots and pans then sprayed with oven cleaner. The witness said Shalena Clark pulled out a small silver gun and pointed it at the head of her friend and pulled the trigger, but the gun did not fire.
The witness added that Rayshawnda Clark took the gun and pointed it at a general crowd of people and pulled the trigger, but the weapon did not fire.