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Woman admits killng boyfriend, but cites battering, neglect
By Joe Gorman
YOUNGSTOWN
A woman accused of stabbing her boyfriend to death last May had a history of being abused by him, attorneys said Thursday, and that is one reason why she was allowed to plead guilty to a reduced charge.
Autumn Hines, 20, entered a guilty plea in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court to a third-degree felony charge of involuntary manslaughter for the May 19, 2015, death of Rashad Bailey, 23, who died after being stabbed by Hines during an argument at a Maplewood Court apartment.
Prosecutors are recommending probation for Hines, who spent several months in the county jail before she posted bond.
Judge Lou D’Apolito will sentence Hines at a later date. He said he wants to know more information about Hines’ relationship with Bailey before he hands down his sentence.
She faces a maximum of 36 months in prison. She originally was charged with murder, but that was amended to involuntary manslaughter in exchange for her plea.
Judge D’Apolito enteredinto the record as evidence some of the circumstances of the case as told to him by the attorneys, saying there was documented abuse of Hines by Bailey. He said Hines had two of Bailey’s children and was pregnant with another and had no food, money, or diapers for them.
Before he was killed, she gave Bailey her Women-Infants-Children card to get food for them, but he left, did not return for several hours and when he did return, he had neither the food nor the card.
Judge D’Apolito said Bailey then became abusive toward Hines and the two argued before Bailey was stabbed.
Reports said Hines told police that Bailey punched her in the mouth before she stabbed him. Records show police were called to the home four times within two months of Bailey’s death for fights and that Hines had made several police reports against Bailey but declined to press any charges.
“This young man [Bailey] was very volatile, very violent,” Judge D’Apolito said.
Assistant Prosecutor Dawn Cantalamessa said one of the reasons the plea was offered was that Hines could have claimed Battered Women’s Syndrome as a defense. She said the plea offer was made after consulting with several people, including Bailey’s family.
“We thought because of all the circumstances, this was the best result,” Cantalamessa said.
Lynn Maro, attorney for Hines, also said the abuse Hines suffered would come into play for her defense.
“The court is aware this was an abusive relationship,” Maro said.