Man indicted in Thanksgiving murder

Staff report

youngstown

A suspect in a murder Thanksgiving morning was indicted by a Mahoning County grand jury Thursday.

Leo Kellish, 33, of Shirley Road, faces two counts of murder in the early-morning beating death of 70-year-old Dennis Simmons, who was found in his driveway in the 2400 block of Shirley Road nude and covered in blood.

Kellish was arrested when police arrived. Officers who responded found Kellish on the front porch wearing nothing but a pair of boxer shorts and covered in blood and claiming he acted in self-defense.

He was handcuffed at gunpoint and arraigned in Youngstown Municipal Court the day after the murder. He has remained in the county jail on $1 million bond.

Court records show that Kellish was arrested for domestic violence in 1999 and pleaded guilty in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court in 2000, but sentencing information was unavailable Thursday. He also pleaded guilty to domestic violence in 2007 and was sentenced to probation, then was given prison time later after he violated his probation, according to court records.

Police have said Kellish used Simmons’ address but he did not live with him and instead chose to be homeless.

The grand jury also indicted seven people secretly on drug charges. Their names will be released when they are arrested.

Those indicted will be arraigned Tuesday before Common Pleas Judge Maureen Sweeney:

Joseph Sanders, 42, Dryden Street, illegal conveyance of prohibited items onto the grounds of a detention facility.

Jerry Bradford, 21, Summer Street, breaking and entering.

Michelle L. Dirocco, 31, Shady Side Drive, Boardman, trafficking in marijuana.

Andrew J. Kocak Jr., 32, Buchanan Drive, Boardman, burglary, receiving stolen property and retaliation.

Nathan Minder, 26, Crestview Road, New Waterford, receiving stolen property.

Justin E. Normadin, 27, Westchester Drive, Austintown, possession of drugs.

John Billec III, 50, driving while under the influence of alcohol.

Donald Holliday, 41, Coffee Run Road, Pulaski, Pa., abduction.

Jeffrey D. Shaughnessy, 50, Indian Lake Boulevard, Canfield, three counts of theft.

Randall Sparks, 48, Sierra Madre Trail, Boardman, receiving stolen property and breaking and entering.

Felicia Ward, 21, Auburndale, receiving stolen property.

Alexander Mitchell, 27, Winona Avenue, possession of cocaine with a forfeiture specification.

William Robb Jr., 25, Villa Marie Road, Lowellville, driving while under the influence of alcohol.

Craig Stevens, 33, South Heights Avenue, burglary.

Charles Alexander, 35, Mahoning Avenue, North Jackson, aggravated burglary

Cheryl A. Durig, 54, Silica Road, North Jackson, possession of drugs and possession of dangerous drugs.

Danny Slepski, 25, Applecrest Court, Boardman, aggravated burglary with a firearm specification and felonious assault.

Jeny Esenwein, 32, and Paul M. Sforza, 33, both of West Walnut Run, Lowellville, possession of heroin, possession of cocaine, misuse of a credit card and theft.

Tyasia E. Boykin, 20, Ohio Avenue, aggravated robbery with a firearm specification.

Tayeka A. Hudson, 25, Gladstone Road, Campbell, theft.

Kristen M. Sinkovich, 25, Branden Avenue, Boardman, passing bad checks.

April M. Blosser, 29, and Jon Blosser, 36, both of Bayberry Drive N.E., Warren, possession of cocaine and four counts of receiving stolen property.

Luis A. Laboy, 19, Wirt Street, possession of cocaine with a forfeiture specification.

Kallie Convery, 31, Mosser Drive, New Castle, Pa., possession of cocaine and two counts of possession of drugs.

Brittany Haefke, 21, Finland Drive, Austintown, possession of cocaine.

David Triplett, 21, East Indianola Avenue, receiving stolen property and carrying concealed weapons.

Joseph Matusky, 33, Reed Street, Struthers, direct presentment, forgery.

Joseph Hardy, 31, West Glenaven Avenue, direct presentment, forgery.

Jessica Adams, 21, Matta Avenue and Ronald Howell, 23, Eleanor Avenue, direct presentment, possession of cocaine and two counts of possession of drugs.

Nicholas J. Pondillo, 41, Oxford Street, Campbell, direct presentment, breaking and entering and vandalism.

David Kopnitsky, 34, New York Avenue, felonious assault and assault.