Former Warren attorney asks for early release from probation

Staff report

WARREN

Maridee Constanzo, a former Warren attorney who was sentenced to eight years in prison in 2005 for plotting to kill her then-husband, Atty. Roger Bauer, has asked a judge for early release from her three-year probation.

Constanzo was released from federal prison in August 2012, meaning she has served nearly 18 months of her probation.

But in a Dec. 20, 2013, letter to Judge David D. Dowd Jr. in Akron, she assured the judge that she is sober, following treatment requirements for her mental-health issues, and motivated to lead a law-abiding life.

Costanzo said she is studying at Liberty University toward a master’s degree in counseling with a specialization in substance abuse and chemical dependency.

“I remain focused on being sober, positive, and productive,” she said in the letter.

“Looking backwards at my life, things had spiraled so far out of control, that I was either high or planning on getting high for most of my waking hours. That was how far from reality I was,” she said.

“The 96 months you made me serve sobered me up, figuratively and literally. There is absolutely nothing in this world that I would even consider risking my freedom, liberty, serenity and self-respect for at this point in my life.”

Judge Dowd asked the federal probation department and United States attorneys to submit a written recommendation by Jan. 24 regarding Constanzo’s request.

Among the terms of her probation, as outlined during her 2005 sentencing are that she not possess firearms or other dangerous weapons, leave the Northern District of Ohio without permission, report to her probation officer in Youngstown every month and allow warrantless searches.