METRO DIGEST || Animal-cruelty case

Animal-cruelty case

GIRARD

A judge Thursday sentenced a city man to a year’s probation on a misdemeanor animal-cruelty charge. Police arrested John Giordano, 51, in February after a video surfaced in which a man appears to beat a dog outside a North St. Clair Street home. The video ignited outrage on social media and prompted a small group of animal-rights activists to protest at Giordano’s court appearances. Judge Jeffrey Adler of Girard Municipal Court found Giordano guilty after Giordano pleaded no contest to the charge. Judge Adler also ordered Giordano to forfeit the dog, a Rottweiler named Hazard, and pay $684 in fines and court costs, according to a court clerk.

Choffin, MCCTC offer summer ABLE classes

YOUNGSTOWN

The Youngstown ABLE program offers free classes for adults who want to study for a GED or brush up on academics before entering college or an adult career program. Summer ABLE classes at Choffin and Mahoning County Career and Technical Center begin in July. Classes will take place from 9 a.m. to noon Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Adults must register before attending classes at 9 a.m. Monday or 9 a.m. Wednesday, both at Choffin.

Adults must be on time for registration and plan to spend 41/2 hours to complete the process. Call 330-744-8769 for other registration dates and times.

Arrested on 3 warrants

YOUNGSTOWN

Police arrested a Canfield Road man at about 12:55 a.m. Thursday on three warrants after they spotted a passenger in his car hanging halfway out the window while the car was traveling on East Avondale Avenue on the South Side.

Reports said an officer pulled the car over and found the driver, Larry Sudberry, 19, had warrants from municipal court for speeding, driving under suspension and possession of drugs. He also picked up an additional charge of driving under suspension and was taken to the Mahoning County jail on the warrants. The passenger, whose name was not listed on reports, was issued a citation for hanging out the window and was released.

Indicted in sex case

CLEVELAND

A federal grand jury has indicted Eric T. Shotwell, 41, of Minerva, on charges of transportation of a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity and travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, the U.S. attorney said.

Shotwell knowingly traveled from Ohio to Missouri and Kentucky in March to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a 14-year-old girl, according to the indictment.

The indictment also charges that, from March 13-17, Shotwell knowingly transported a 14-year-old girl from Kentucky to Ohio with the intent that the girl would be engaged in sexual activity.

The case was investigated by the FBI and by Canton, Minerva and West Plains, Mo., police.

15 years for firearm

CLEVELAND

A Youngstown man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, the U.S. attorney said Thursday.

Lawrence J. Johnson, 52, an armed career criminal, illegally possessed a 9 mm pistol Aug. 12, despite four felony convictions in state court, the U.S. attorney said.

These were attempted robbery in 1982 and robbery in 1983, both in Mahoning County; and robbery in 1997 and complicity to aggravated robbery with a firearm in 2005, both in Trumbull County.

This federal gun case was investigated by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Man faces OVI charge

BOARDMAN

A Struthers man is charged with operating a vehicle while impaired after his arrest Thursday morning, according to a police report.

Police arrived on the scene of an accident on Brandon Avenue where a 2004 GMC Envoy ran into a tree. Emergency responders already were on the scene and checked the driver, Anthony Carson, 19, of Brandon Avenue, who refused to go to the hospital.

According to a police report, Carson’s eyes were watery and bloodshot. The arresting officer conducted a field-sobriety test, which Carson failed.

Carson, however, when given a breath-analysis test registered a zero blood-alcohol content. According to police, Carson admitted to smoking marijuana earlier and submitted to a urine test. He was released on a summons pending a court date in Mahoning County Area Court here.

Scanning documents

YOUNGSTOWN

The Mahoning County commissioners Thursday approved a $130,106 agreement with ACS Enterprise Solutions LLC of Dallas for on-site scanning of county recorder’s office land documents dating back to 1850 into the county computer system.

The project will be paid for from document-filing fees. Some of the recorder’s documents have been heavily damaged because of their age and years of handling, said Pam Clay, recorder’s office supervisor.

Partial road closing

FARMDALE

Stoddard-Hayes Road, between state Route 5 and Fisher-Corinth Road, will be closed from Monday through July 15 for culvert replacement, the Trumbull County Engineer announced today.

The recommended detour route is west on state Route 5, north on state Route 193, east on Fisher-Corinth, and south on Stoddard-Hayes.

Father’s Day car show

NORTH LIMA

Beaver Township Ruritans will sponsor their 12th annual Father’s Day car show, rain or shine, from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday at South Range High School, 11300 Columbiana-Canfield Road.

Registration will take place from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Prizes will be awarded in people’s choice and club choice classes in 17 categories. Dash plaques will be presented to the first 100 car-show participants.

Cost to enter will be $6. The event also will offer a 50-50, food, basket auction, door prizes, goodie bags and entertainment from DJ Firefly.

For information, contact Gary Kappler at 330-482-9048 and 330-770-2105, or Don Swope at 330-549-2574.