Youngstown man indicted on murder

Youngstown man indicted on murder

NEW CUMBERLAND, W.Va.

A Youngstown man has been indicted on first-degree murder charges in the overdose death of a Newell woman in 2011.

The Hancock County grand jury returned an indictment of first-degree murder and delivery of a controlled substance against Jarell A. Washington, 23, of Youngstown.

The indictment states Washington caused the death of Kristen Renfro, of Newell, by supplying her with heroin, a Schedule I controlled substance, March 7, 2011.

Hancock County Prosecutor Jim Davis said Renfro died a day later of a heroin overdose.

“I think [Washington] was a person that she was familiar with as a supplier,” Davis said. “In our state, if you commit certain crimes, such as delivery of a controlled substance, and a person dies as a result, that’s felony murder.”

Washington already is serving 18 months at Belmont Correctional Institution in St. Clairsville, Ohio, for drug trafficking and possession of drugs — cases originating in Columbiana County, according to the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.

Sen. Thune to stump for Romney in Valley

HANOVERTON

U.S. Sen. John Thune, a Republican from South Dakota, will speak on behalf of Mitt Romney, his party’s presidential nominee, outside the Spread Eagle Tavern in Hanoverton at 1:15 p.m. Tuesday. Before making public remarks, Thune will attend a private Romney campaign briefing with key local Republican supporters. Columbiana County Republican Party Chairman Dave Johnson, whose family owns the historic inn and restaurant, is hosting the event.

Youngstown officer promoted to captain

YOUNGSTOWN

Youngstown Police Officer Kevin Mercer has been promoted from lieutenant to captain. Mercer was appointed to the police department Dec. 9, 1996, and promoted to detective sergeant July 1, 2002. He was later promoted to lieutenant in October 2009.

Mayor Charles Sammarone and Police Chief Rod Foley made the announcement Friday at a small ceremony in council chambers at City Hall.

Valley’s new citizens

YOUNGSTOWN

Nine people became U.S. citizens in a naturalization ceremony this week before retired Judge Charles J. Bannon, with Anthony Vivo, Mahoning County clerk of courts, administering the oath of citizenship.

The new citizens, their hometowns, and countries of origin, are: Cheng Zhang, Boardman, People’s Republic of China; Geenu Tressy James, Austintown, India; James Joseph, Austintown, India; Evgenia Borisovna Hull, Poland, Russia; Tatyana Vitaliyvna Larina-Sayers, New Springfield, Ukraine; Nada Ahmad Afnan, Boardman, Jordan; Lina Dankha Knisely, Canfield, Iraq; Anas Abdelrahim Abu Malouh, Boardman, Jordan; and Glaiza Baki Pazin, Austintown, Philippines.

Crime victims’ help available in Lisbon

Lisbon

Kelli Grace, manager of Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine’s Crime Victims Information Center, will host a free informational session on the Ohio Victims of Crime Compensation Program from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Lepper Library, 303 E. Lincoln Way. The program is one of several offered by the Attorney General’s Office to assist those who have been crime victims.

Staff and wire reports

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