Warren man convicted of theft at Devine’s Shop and Save in Hubbard

Staff report

GIRARD

Duane Spagnola, 28, of Ferndale Avenue in Warren, was convicted of reduced charges of misdemeanor theft and misdemeanor carrying a concealed weapon Thursday in Girard Municipal Court in an April 17 robbery at Devine’s Shop and Save, 529 N. Main St., Hubbard.

Police said Spagnola shoplifted a bottle of chocolate milk and fought with store personnel during the 2:04 p.m. incident. He then ran from the store, and Hubbard police arrested him a short time later.

Hubbard police initially charged him with felony robbery and felony carrying a concealed weapon, but Spagnola pleaded no contest Thursday to the misdemeanor offenses, was sentenced to 10 days in the Trumbull County Jail, fined $1,000 plus court costs with $900 of it suspended and ordered to serve one year of probation.

If he had been convicted on the felony charges, he could have gotten nearly 10 years in prison.

Spagnola was arraigned on the felony charges Monday with bond set at $10,000.

Information relating to the weapon involved was not available this week from the Hubbard Police Department, which said Tuesday and Friday that the report on the incident was not available because it had not yet been approved by departmental supervisors.

Neither Police Chief James Taafe, Detective Sgt. David Oakes nor any other superviser was available Friday to provide information on the case, and Oakes did not return a phone call seeking information.