Judge finds Atty. Heidi Hanni in contempt of court

YOUNGSTOWN — A judge has found Atty. Heidi Hanni of Boardman in contempt of court and fined her $1,000 for failing to appear for a pre-trial hearing in a rape case last week.

Judge Maureen A. Sweeney of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court acted against Hanni today after she failed to appear at a 10:30 a.m. Thursday hearing to represent Leon Gettings, 56, of Canfield, who faces three counts of raping a 14-year-old between Aug. 24, 2011, and June 10, 2012.

Hanni told the judge she was in Las Vegas when the judge’s secretary notified her law office of the hearing last Tuesday. “It’s been set all along,” the judge said of the hearing.

“No, it was not set, your honor,” Hanni replied, before Judge Sweeney ended the one-minute hearing by announcing the contempt finding and fine.