Man gets 35-year sentence in rape/kidnapping/burglary case

WARREN — Cecil Flenner, 41, of Potomac Avenue in Niles, was sentenced to 35 years in prison today for raping and kidnapping a former girlfriend and committing aggravated burglary, domestic violence and tampering with evidence in the incident.

He was convicted at a trial last month in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court before Judge Peter Kontos.

The charges stem from an Aug. 26 incident at Forest Grove mobile home park on Weir Road in Howland. Police said Flenner broke into the trailer of a woman he knew while she was asleep and assaulted her while holding a crowbar.

Flenner has a lengthy arrest record at the county jail.

Police said he woke up the woman and slapped her face and head while holding a crowbar and threatening to hit her. He then raped her while also striking her with his hands and choked her, police said.

He forced the woman to shower and put on clean clothes in an attempt to destroy DNA evidence, police said. She tried to flee, and Flenner dragged her back to the bedroom by her hair, injuring her knees as they scraped on the carpeting, police said.

Flenner fell asleep on the couch, allowing the victim to call 911 and wait for officers outside. Police arrested Flenner and found the crowbar next to the night stand.

A window on the side of the trailer had been broken out, and Flenner’s truck was found in the parking lot of a nearby church, police said.