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Niles boy being tried for murder arraigned in common pleas court
By Ed Runyan
WARREN
Jacob Larosa, 16, of Lafayette Avenue in Niles, pleaded not guilty to aggravated murder and other charges in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court in the death of his elderly neighbor.
It was his first hearing in adult court after a judge in juvenile court ruled that he should be tried as an adult.
Chris Becker, assistant county prosecutor, said Tuesday that Larosa’s case will be handled the same as any other adult defendant.
Becker said it’s been at least 10 years since a juvenile has been tried as an adult in the county.
Unlike in Larosa’s juvenile proceedings, his face was not turned away from the news media, and there were no restrictions on taking his picture.
Judge W. Wyatt McKay continued Larosa’s bond at $3 million and set his first pretrial hearing for 11 a.m. Jan. 15.
Judge Sandra Stabile Harwood of juvenile court cited Larosa’s “lengthy history of behavior issues extending back to early childhood” and a “history of disregard for any treatment or sanctions that have been offered through the juvenile system,” in ordering him to be tried as an adult.
The decision came after a hearing in juvenile court at which witnesses presented evidence regarding Larosa’s criminal background, psychiatric evaluation and other information.
Larosa has attention deficit disorder, mood disorder and “some mental-health issues” dating back to age 8 – but not mental illness, Judge Stabile Harwood said during the hearing, at which she announced he would be tried as an adult.
Larosa is charged with aggravated murder, attempted rape, aggravated burglary and aggravated robbery in the March 31 beating death of Marie Belcastro, 94, of Cherry Street in Niles, who Larosa knew.
Larosa was 15 at the time of the crimes.
Conviction on aggravated murder could result in a sentence of life in prison with no parole, or life in prison with parole eligibility after 20, 25 or 30 years.
Larosa is being held in the county juvenile justice center, but he could be transferred to the adult jail if his behavior indicates he’s a danger to the people at the juvenile center, Stabile-Harwood said.
Police said Belcastro’s daughter found her mother’s body at about the same time police and ambulance personnel were called to Larosa’s house around the corner because Larosa was vomiting and had blood on his hands and underwear.
He was checked at the hospital and had no injuries.