Trumbull judge hears arguments for and against opening records in juvenile’s murder case

By Ed Runyan

runyan@vindy.com

WARREN

Judge Sandra Stabile Harwood heard arguments Tuesday from attorneys for Jacob Larosa, The Vindicator and the Trumbull County Prosecutor’s office and will decide soon whether to keep the records in Larosa’s murder case closed to the public.

Atty. Rob Kokor, a public defender, represents Larosa, 15, of Lafayette Avenue in Niles, on charges of aggravated murder, attempted rape, aggravated robbery and aggravated burglary in the March 31 beating death of his neighbor, Marie Belcastro, 94, of Cherry Street.

Kokor asked Judge Stabile Harwood, of Trumbull County Family Court, to close the records to protect Larosa from the “immeasurable” harm that could result to him from the release of information from documents in the event that the judge decides to try Larosa as a juvenile instead of as an adult.

If the case is transferred to the adult common pleas court, then most documents will be automatically open to public inspection, but that type of public access is not automatic in juvenile proceedings, Kokor said.

Furthermore, information released to the public now could influence the opinion of someone who might become a juror in the adult court, Kokor said.

Chris Becker, assistant prosecutor, said knowledge of a case doesn’t prevent someone from being a juror as long as the juror agrees that the information received won’t prevent him or her from being fair to the defendant.

Kokor called his request for a blanket order keeping the records sealed a “temporary order” that would not harm the news media or public except for the approximately 60 days during which Judge Stabile Harwood is deciding whether to transfer the case to adult court.

But Atty. Dan Kavouras of Cleveland, representing The Vindicator, said the public “doesn’t have to show a reason to need the records” in a criminal matter such as this. “They are entitled to the records as a legal presumption.”

He quoted the Ohio Supreme Court Rules of Superintendence, which govern all courts in Ohio. They allow the judge to limit access to ensure fairness of the judicial process and other reasons, but the judge is advised to use the “least restrictive means available,” the rules say.

Though information about Larosa was released to the public at the common pleas court level several weeks ago that gives details regarding the allegations against him, additional details are contained in a document filed at the juvenile court, Becker said.

The earlier document, called an affidavit in supprt of a search warrant, says Belcastro’s daughter found her mother’s body at about the same time police and ambulance personnel were called to Larosa’s house because Larosa was vomiting and had blood on his hands and underwear.

Judge Stabile Harwood 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 to hear evidence as to whether Larosa should be tried as an adult.