Warren man goes on trial Monday on 2015 attempted abduction of Champion jogger

Staff report

WARREN

David R. Honzu, 58, will go on trial Monday in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court on a charge accusing him of attempting to abduct a woman jogging on Airport Road in Champion last year.

Honzu, of Bonnie Brae Avenue Northeast, spent more than 11 years in prison earlier on a 1995 rape conviction.

He also was convicted of menacing by stalking with a sexual motivation in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court in 2010 and was sentenced to one year in prison, but served only about three months, according to court records.

In the case going to trial Monday before Judge Andrew Logan, Honzu is accused of demanding that a Champion woman “come here” while running after her on Airport Road on May 17, 2015.

Police say Honzu was driving a pickup truck that passed the woman, 50, twice while she was jogging. Then Honzu is accused of stopping and asking her for directions to Hewitt-Garfield Road.

The woman said there was no such street in Champion.

The woman said Honzu “got out of his truck and came after her, yelling at her in a loud and gruff voice, ‘Come here. Come here,’” police said.

The woman said Honzu never touched her, but she started screaming, “Help me,” and ran toward a house to get help.

Honzu got back into the truck and drove off. Police were unable to find the man, but a bulletin was sent to all area police departments to watch for him. A warrant charging him with the incident was issued about two weeks later.

If convicted, Honzu could get up to 18 months in prison.