Man with history of assaulting authorities gets 7 years

Staff report

WARREN

A man with a history of assaults on law-enforcement officers received a seven-year prison term Thursday.

James D. Fudge, 24, of Prospect Avenue Northwest, pleaded guilty earlier to felonious assault for head-butting a bailiff for Warren Municipal Court while being escorted to the Trumbull County jail.

On Thursday, Judge Ronald Rice of Trumbull County Common Pleas Court sentenced Fudge to one year less than the maximum.

The incident occurred Oct. 3, 2013, as bailiff Jessie Howard was taking handcuffs off of Fudge in a holding cell at the jail. The bailiff was returning Fudge to the jail after a hearing in Warren Municipal Court on menacing and trespass charges.

Howard spoke at Fudge’s sentencing Thursday, saying he forgives Fudge.

But Judge Rice cited Fudge’s lengthy criminal record.

Read more about the case and Fudge's history in Friday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.