Tuesday, April 28, 2015
WARREN
Judge Sandra Stabile Harwood heard arguments this morning from the attorney for Jacob Larosa, the attorney for The Vindicator and attorneys for the Trumbull County Prosecutor's Office regarding the records in the criminal case involving Larosa.
The judge, one of two in the Trumbull County Family Court, said she will issue a written ruling soon to render her decision.
Larosa, 15, of Niles is charged with aggravated murder, attempted rape, aggravated robbery and aggravated burglary in the March 31 beating death of Marie Belcastro, 94, of Cherry Street, Niles, in her home.
Belcastro’s daughter found her body at about the same time police and ambulance personnel were called to Larosa’s house nearby on Lafayette Street because Larosa was vomiting and had blood on his hands and underwear.
Judge Stabile Harwood also will preside over a hearing at 1:30 p.m. Thursday to determine whether there is probable cause for the case to move forward. If it does, Judge Stabile Harwood will schedule a hearing later to hear evidence as to whether Larosa should be tried as an adult.
If he is, it would be one of only a handful of juveniles who have been tried as an adult in Trumbull County in the past 30 years.