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JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
YOUNGSTOWN
Jury selection began Monday and will continue today in the case of a Youngstown man accused of brutally beating and raping a female acquaintance more than a year ago.
Sanjuan Smith, 42, of Almyra Avenue, is facing two counts of rape, two counts of kidnapping, and felonious assault. He is before Judge James C. Evans of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.
Smith, earlier this year, claimed he was not guilty by reason of insanity. Judge Evans, following an evaluation, ruled that Smith is competent to stand trial and that his mental state did not impair his judgment at the time of the alleged crimes.
Smith had been scheduled for trial on four previous occasions, but those trial dates were continued for various reasons. Prosecutors and defense attorneys began selecting a jury Monday afternoon and are expected to begin with opening statements today after finishing jury selection.
Smith has been in jail on a $750,000 bond since his arrest in early June 2011.
Smith was arrested after a 28-year-old female showed up at the downtown police station, badly beaten and asking officers for help.
Police went to the woman’s Market Street home about 8 a.m. and found Smith sleeping inside.
The woman told police Smith came to her home and the couple engaged in consensual sex, but Smith became enraged when he looked in her cellphone and found names and text messages from other men.
According to police reports, Smith attacked the woman, striking her multiple times.
The woman said Smith then made her perform various sex acts against her will and refused to let her leave the home.
The woman said she ran out of the home and to the police station after Smith went to sleep.