Facing sex charges

Facing sex charges

WARREN

Bond was set at $1 million Monday in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court for Jacob McGee, 36, of Ashland, Ky., and Cadwallader-Sonk Road in Cortland, indicted on five counts of rape and two counts of gross sexual imposition.

All of the offenses are purported to have been committed against the same girl in the fall of 2012 or February 2013, when the girl was about 7.

McGee could get life in prison if convicted of any of the rape charges. He pleaded not guilty during his arraignment before Judge Peter Kontos.

Assault trial begins

WARREN

A trial without a jury began Monday before Judge W. Wyatt McKay of Trumbull County Common Pleas Court for Kevin Gaines, 23, of Union Street Southwest, charged with two counts of felonious assault with a firearm.

Warren police said Gaines, of Southwest Boulevard Southwest, shot a 23-year-old city man in the back with a shotgun. The victim spent six days in the hospital, said Chris Becker, assistant Trumbull County prosecutor.

The second count of felonious assault is for a woman who was with the male victim. The shots did not hit her, but she was at risk of being hit by the gunfire, Becker said.

The shooting occurred just before midnight Dec. 13, 2014, on Arnold Drive Southwest in the Highland Homes apartments.

Man on trial

WARREN

A jury trial began Monday in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court for David E. White, 58, of Park Avenue in Garrettsville, charged with five counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. White is accused of the conduct from May 2014 to August 2014 with a girl age 13 or 14.

The trial, in the courtroom of Judge Ronald Rice, will resume today. The victim in the case is a runaway and was not available to testify at the trial, prosecutors said.

More sex charges

WARREN

Bond was set at $100,000 Monday in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court for Christopher Kavalesky, 45, of Fenton Street in Niles during his arraignment on numerous sex charges relating to a minor.

He pleaded not guilty to six counts of pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor, five counts of voyeurism, three counts of illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material and one count of tampering with evidence.

If convicted, he could get more than 70 years in prison.

Easter event planned

AUSTINTOWN

Clare Bridge Austintown, 1420 S. Canfield Niles Road, will host an Easter Eggstravaganza on Saturday. Refreshments will be offered at 10 a.m. and an egg hunt will begin at 11.

Children and grandchildren of Clare Bridge residents are invited to the hunt and party. Information about living at the facility will be available during the event. Reservations are required by today by calling Sonya Bennett at 330-270-1448.

Jury selection begins

YOUNGSTOWN

Jury selection began Monday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court for one of four men accused of a string of robberies in November 2012. James Woods, 20, of Palmer Avenue faces charges of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, aggravated robbery and carrying a concealed weapon.

He is accused of taking part in a spate of armed robberies at Family Dollar stores on Market Street and South Avenue in Boardman; twice robbing a Family Dollar on Market Street in Youngstown; and robbing a Subway in Youngstown.

Interfaith seder

YOUNGSTOWN

Tickets are still available for the Interfaith Seder planned at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Stambaugh Auditorium on Fifth Avenue.

The seder will be led by Rabbi Joseph Schonberger of Temple El Emeth in Liberty; the Rev. George Balasko, retired priest and co-founder of Jewish/Chrisitan Studies; and the Rev. Nick Meger, retired pastor of First Presbyterian Church.

This will be an authentic presentation of the Passover service called a seder. Traditional food will be made by Kravitz Delicatessen, and a full dinner is included.

Youngstown Jewish Federation and Mahoning Valley Association of Churches sponsors the event. Tickets are $35 each and can be purchased through the Stambaugh box office by calling 330-259-0555.

Police probe theft

BOARDMAN

Township police are investigating a case of theft after someone reportedly stole a dragon statue from Sawa Japanese Cuisine, 7401 Market St.

An employee reported to police Friday that four customers picked up a statue with a lion’s body and a dragon’s head, worth $2,000, and carried it out of the restaurant Thursday. The employee told police the statue has “great sentimental value.”

Burglary charges

BOARDMAN

Township police arrested Ceira Buckner, 27, of Ferndale Avenue, and Mia Johnson, 24, of Rosewood Avenue, at a Schenley Avenue complex about 5 a.m. after the landlord stopped them at gunpoint.

The women said they were there to look at an apartment and that they entered the vacant unit after they discovered it was unlocked.

The landlord told police he confronted the two after he heard noise coming from the vacant apartment above his own.

Johnson and Buckner face burglary charges.