METRO DIGEST || Closing arguments expected today

Closing arguments expected today

YOUNGSTOWN

Jurors are expected to hear closing arguments today in the case of a man who police say was killed over stolen electricity.

Both sides rested their case Thursday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court where Michael Paige, 22, faces a charge of aggravated murder in the March 1, 2011, shooting death of Munir Blake, 31, in an apartment building in the 200 block of Lora Avenue on the North Side.

Paige is accused of killing Blake after Blake confronted a neighbor in his building, Jasmine Fletcher, 23, after she was stealing electricity from his apartment.

Fletcher pleaded guilty Monday to charges of obstruction of justice and tampering with evidence. Prosecutors are recommending a sentence of three years in prison for her.

Grant helps OCCHA establish classroom

YOUNGSTOWN

OCCHA Inc. (Organizacion Civica y Cultural Hispana Americana) received a $2,500 grant from The Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley International Institute Fund.

The money enabled the Hispanic social-service organization to establish a classroom in an underused area of its building at 3660 Shirley Road to accommodate up to 25 students at a time for multilevel English as a Second Language classes.

Paint, tables, a chalkboard and a portion of the classroom books were purchased through the grant. Volunteers painted the 420-square-foot classroom, which has housed nearly 60 ESL students to date.

OCCHA offers ESL classes free of charge four days a week to anyone interested in learning English. Mary Ann Hartman is the volunteer teacher. For information or to register, call 330-781-1808.

Woman pleads guilty to assault

WARREN

Kristina Burgess, 26, of Glenwood Street Northeast pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor assault in the July 2013 stabbing of her brother, Patrick I. White Jr., 25.

She went on trial this week in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court on a felonious-assault charge, but after four hours of deliberations, the jury had reached “something of an impasse,” said Chuck Morrow, assistant county prosecutor.

That’s when Morrow and the attorney for Burgess started talking about a plea agreement, and Burgess agreed.

She could get up to six months in prison when she is sentenced.

White said his sister stabbed him in the chest in the kitchen of her house during an argument.

More Digest on A8