43
Youngstown man's court antics bring immediate jail time for contempt
By Joe Gorman
YOUNGSTOWN
Marcus Menton answered a question with a question during his arraignment in municipal court Tuesday on charges he shot at a house Friday.
Magistrate Anthony Sertick gave him the answer: 30 days in jail for contempt of court.
Sertick gave Menton, 27, of Dogwood Lane, a $50,000 bond on charges he fired several shots at a home in the 100 block of Regent Street about 9:45 a.m. Friday and also had four bags of suspected marijuana on him when he was caught.
One of the reasons for the hefty bond involves 22 prior charges dating back to 2003, which were recited by Assistant Prosecutor Shelli Freeze. They include charges of assault, three counts of aggravated robbery, disorderly conduct, breaking and entering, carrying a concealed weapon, receiving stolen property and felonious assault.
After the bond was set, Menton was upset.
Sertick then gave Menton a no-contact order with the home he is accused of shooting up and the person inside. When asked if he understood, Menton said, “Nope.”
Sertick then asked him what he didn’t understand and also asked Menton if he knew what he is in jail for.
Menton in return asked Sertick a question.
“I’m 27 years old. I’ve been in the penitentiary twice,” Menton said. “Do you know what you’re in for?”
That’s when Menton was served with the contempt charge. As he was taken away from the camera in the Mahoning County jail, where he was being arraigned by video, the next inmate in front of the camera sat down and started grinning.
A police report said officers were called to the Regent Street home and found several bullet holes in the outside walls and two spent bullets inside.
A woman at the home said Menton fired several shots at the home with a handgun and then ran in between two houses toward West Warren Avenue, where he was caught by police.
Although police found the suspected marijuana, they could not find a gun, reports said. Reports said a police dog was brought in to help them look over a three-block area and they still could not find it. No one was injured in the shooting.