Bonds reduced for couple charged in shooting
By Joe Gorman
YOUNGSTOWN
A Mahoning County Common Pleas Court judge Thursday agreed to reduce bonds for a couple charged in a May shooting on the North Side.
Judge Maureen Sweeney set bonds of $250,000 each for Thomas Hull, 59, and his wife, Evegenia, 33, both of Logan Avenue, during a bond hearing. Attorneys for the couple had asked that the bonds be reduced from the $500,000 each that was set for them when they were arraigned in common pleas court on charges of attempted aggravated murder, attempted murder and felonious assault.
The charges stem from the shooting of a man at Elm Street and Madison Avenue on May 13.
Police said the Hulls were in a van that was chasing an SUV that the victim was driving. When the SUV stopped, police said Evegenia Hull jumped out of the van and fired several shots into the SUV before jumping back into the van, which drove away.
They were arrested by U.S. marshals a few days later in Pittsburgh and brought back to Youngstown. They have been in the Mahoning County jail since. They also had asked for lower bonds when they were arraigned in municipal court, where Judge Elizabeth Kobly set their bonds at $500,000 each before the case was bound over to a grand jury.
Atty. David Betras, who was representing Thomas Hull for the bond hearing, said a $500,000 bond was excessive. He said Thomas Hull has a law degree from the University of Iowa and knows his responsibilities about appearing in court. He also said Thomas Hull owns an Internet business and the facts of the prosecution’s case are weak. He said witnesses described another man who was in the van with Evegenia Hull. Betras suggested a bond of $50,000.
“They don’t have that strong of a case against Mr. Hull,” Betras said.
Paul Conn, who represented Evegenia Hull, said his client, who originally is from Russia, has no ties there anymore, and all her family is here. He said she was in Pittsburgh to visit a sick relative when she and her husband were arrested.
He suggested a bond of $40,000.
Assistant Prosecutor Rob Andrews said he did not want to reveal what evidence he has, but he did say he was opposed to the reduction, as was the victim, who knew of the hearing but was not in court.
Judge Sweeney, however, agreed to lower the bonds, and she said if the two can post bond they will be placed on house arrest.