Jury selection under way in five-year-old rape case

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Jury selection began Monday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court in a rape case that originally was indicted in 2010.

Jurors reported to the courtroom of Judge Maureen Sweeney, who is hearing the case against Maurice Clark, 49, of Canfield Road, who is charged with kidnapping and raping a woman in September 2009.

The Justice League of Ohio filed a writ of mandamus in the 7th District Court of Appeals in February on behalf of the victim in the case, saying that five years is too long for justice to be served.

The case has been continued numerous times, sometimes at the request of the prosecution, but most at the request of the defense, although there have been several prosecutors who have been in charge of the case.

The purported crimes occurred Sept. 14, 2009, at Clark’s residence. A Mahoning County grand jury indicted Clark on April 8, 2010.

The accuser told police she and Clark carpooled to work.

Clark has been in the Mahoning County jail on no bond since he failed to appear for a court appearance in January 2013.