Youngstown man acquitted of rape, kidnapping and burglary charges

YOUNGSTOWN — After 21⁄2 hours of deliberations at the end of a four-day trial, an eight-woman, four-man jury acquitted a Helena Avenue man of two counts of rape and one count each of kidnapping and aggravated burglary.

Newell Spann, 36, who was acquitted on all counts this afternoon, had been charged with assaulting his former girlfriend July 23, 2011, at a South Side residence.

Prosecutors alleged that Spann went to the victim’s home when she wasn’t there, waited for her to return and raped her, and that she pepper sprayed him during the alleged attack.

Spann contended that any sexual contact he had with the woman was consensual.

The trial was before Judge John M. Durkin of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.

For the complete story, read Friday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com