Rapist sentenced

Rapist sentenced

WARREN

Gilbert E. Skeins Jr., 22, of Warren Avenue, Niles, was sentenced to life in prison Tuesday with parole eligibility after 25 years.

Skeins was convicted at trial Jan. 13 of rape and gross sexual imposition of a girl who is now 6. Presiding over the case was Judge Andrew Logan of Trumbull County Common Pleas Court.

The crimes occurred in February 2016 in Niles when the girl was 5, prosecutors said.

Niles police said they were contacted by a relative of the victim, saying the child had been victimized while a relative was at the store.

The girl’s father testified that the girl told him Skeins had sexually assaulted her in two locations of her grandmother’s home. Skeins and his girlfriend lived with the girl’s grandmother.

Kindergarten student, 6, dies of influenza

SALEM

A 6-year-old kindergarten student at St. Paul School in Salem died Saturday in Akron Children’s Hospital’s Akron Campus after contracting influenza. The school received notification of the boy’s death over the weekend.

As of Jan. 21, there had been no flu-related pediatric deaths reported in Ohio. Flu-related deaths in people under 18 are required to be reported. It is not known, however, how many total seasonal flu-related deaths have occurred because states aren’t required to report deaths of people older than 18.

Children, the elderly and people with chronic illnesses and people with immune-system issues are at the greatest risk of developing severe influenza symptoms that could result in death. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the flu vaccine for everyone 6 months and older.

Arrested in Florida

YOUNGSTOWN

A man wanted since last January on a probation violation in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court on charges of felonious assault and kidnapping was arrested Monday in Florida.

The U.S. Marshals Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force said Owen Gunther, 52, was tracked to Lake City, Fla., where he was arrested by members of the Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force.

Gunther was sentenced to four years in prison in June 2014 for an attack on his girlfriend and granted judicial release later in January 2015. A warrant was issued for his arrest in January 2016 for a probation violation.

He will be returned to Ohio after an extradition hearing.

Budget meeting

LOWELLVILLE

The village will host a special meeting at 6 p.m. today to discuss an increase in the temporary budget. The meeting will take place at city hall, 140 E. Liberty St.

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