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Boardman couple convicted of beating teen
BOARDMAN
A husband and wife were convicted Tuesday on charges related to their severe beating in October of a 15-year-old boy who was in their care.
Peaches Martin, 23, was found guilty of a misdemeanor count of unlawful restraint, and Jeffrey Martin Jr., 25, was found guilty of a misdemeanor count of assault.
The pair pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor domestic-violence charge apiece Tuesday as part of a plea bargain in which felony charges of child endangering were dismissed.
The domestic-violence charges were reduced for both of them.
Police say Jeffrey assaulted the boy at their Glenwood Avenue residence Oct. 24, with Peaches’ help.
According to a police report, the victim told police that Jeffrey, his legal guardian, struck him all over his body, once with a wooden spoon and 50 to 70 times with an extension cord.
When the boy tried to flee, Peaches held him down while Jeffrey punched his upper body and face several times, he reported to police.
The victim then escaped to a neighbor, who took him to police.
He was then put in the care of a youth shelter, according to Mahoning County Children Services.
The couple appeared in Mahoning County Area Court on Oct. 28 for an arraignment, where they pleaded not guilty to domestic-violence charges. They were free on bond pending Tuesday’s court hearings.
Judge Joseph Houser sentenced Peaches to 60 days in jail, 57 of which were suspended and three for which she got credit for time served. Judge Houser sentenced Jeffrey to 180 days in jail, all of which were suspended.
Both were sentenced to 12 months’ probation. Jeffrey also was referred for anger management. Peaches was fined $150 and Jeffrey was fined $150 in addition to court costs.