Plea hearing set in death of woman, 94

Plea hearing set in death of woman, 94

WARREN

A plea hearing will be at 9 a.m. Friday in Trumbull County Family Court for Jacob Larosa, 15, who is charged with aggravated murder in the death of Marie Belcastro, 94, of Cherry Street, Niles.

A plea hearing is the juvenile-court equivalent of an arraignment, said Stanley Elkins, assistant county prosecutor.

The plea hearing will not involve matters relating to whether Family Court Judge Sandra Stabile Harwood will allow Larosa to be tried as an adult in common pleas court, Elkins said. That will occur later.

Larosa is accused of beating Belcastro to death March 31 in her home.

Belcastro’s funeral will take place at 10 a.m. today at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Niles.

Lordstown school officials set Q &As

LORDSTOWN

There will be an opportunity to hear from Lordstown school administration about the state of finances of Lordstown schools at 5 p.m. today and next Tuesday and at 5 and 7 p.m. April 21 and 28. The sessions include a question-and-answer session. All the sessions will be at Lordstown High School in Lecture Hall B.

Officials rule arson

YOUNGSTOWN

Fire officials ruled arson as the cause of a blaze that destroyed a vacant West Side home early Sunday morning. Reports said crews found a home at 1625 Hartzell Ave. engulfed in flames when they arrived about 7:30 a.m. Reports said it appeared the fire started in the living room.

Two firefighters suffered minor injuries, reports said. Damage is listed at $21,000.

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