Man charged with murder opts for bench trial

June 17, 2016 at 12:00a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

A man charged with murdering his stepmother last summer has opted for a bench trial.

James Jarrell, 33, agreed Thursday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court to have Judge Lou D’Apolito hear his case instead of a jury.

Jarrell is accused of murdering Tina Jarrell, 55, who was found late July 7 in the kitchen of her Wellington Avenue home.

Sporting a tattoo around his neck that says “Crispy,” Jarrell listened as Judge D’Apolito explained his options. He said that if tried by a jury, he could get a hung jury if he can convince just one of 12 people that he is innocent.

However, when trying a case before the bench, he would have only one person to decide his guilt or innocence. Jarrell still opted to have his case heard by the judge.

Jarrell can change his mind and request a jury later. A trial date was being worked out Thursday.

Reports said Tina Jarrell was found by her husband, Robert Jarrell, after he returned from work about 11:35 p.m.

Reports said when officers first arrived, they found her face-down on the living-room floor covered in blood and not breathing. Robert Jarrell and another man were inside, and one of the men was crying, reports said.

Jarrell fled in the victim’s car to Pittsburgh and was arrested almost immediately once he arrived there. He was brought back to Youngstown on Sept. 16 and indicted by a grand jury the next day.

An arrest report for Jarrell said he refused to talk to the detectives who came to take him back to Youngstown.

Judge D’Apolito also urged Jarrell to listen to his lawyers and consider a plea bargain.