Judge to accused: You should have thought of your 5 kids earlier

YOUNGSTOWN

A woman arraigned on two felonies Wednesday in municipal court said she was worried about her five children as a visiting judge gave her a $100,000 bond.

However, Judge Barbara Watson told 38-year-old Melissa Warner of Halls Heights that perhaps her children should have been on her mind before she was arrested.

“You should have given some thought to this before you left your children at home,” Judge Watson said.

Warner was arraigned on two fifth-degree felony charges of receiving stolen property and possession of criminal tools. A co-defendant, Weylin Jennings Scott, 35, of Ridgelawn Avenue, was given a $100,000 bond as well for a receiving stolen property charge, also a fifth-degree felony, and a charge of resisting arrest.

The two were arrested at Diver Steel City scrap yard on Himrod Avenue Monday morning. Police were called there by employees who were suspicious of some metal counterweights that are used in the arms of railroad crossings the pair had in their car.

Assistant City Prosecutor Kathy Thompson asked for a high bond for Scott because he is already wanted on a burglary charge by the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office and also because he has an extensive criminal record.

Thompson said past arrests for Scott include drug and abduction offenses in Ohio and Pennsylvania. Thompson said past charges for Warner include corrupting minors and endangering children, also in Pennsylvania.

Read the complete story in Thursday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.