Hubbard man asks judge to be released early from prison
By Ed Runyan
WARREN
Francis Fasline, 25, formerly of Hubbard, told Judge Ronald Rice of Trumbull County Common Pleas Court the 31/2 years he has spent in prison for running over a man with his car in 2012 has changed him.
“I feel like I’ve started to mature in there,” Fasline said during a hearing Wednesday seeking early release from prison. He was sentenced in December 2013 to five years on convictions by a jury for felonious assault and tampering with evidence.
“I’d like to go into real estate. I know I messed up. I just want to get back home. It’s all bad there, nothing good,” he said of prison. “It really opened my eyes.”
Fasline was charged in a 12:38 a.m. incident Sept. 29, 2012, outside Michael’s Bar on North Main Street in Hubbard. A Sharpsville, Pa., man, 29, was hit by a car driven by Fasline after the two had a confrontation earlier inside a bar.
At trial, the victim described the manner in which he was pinned against his own car and knocked to the ground by the crash. He suffered serious injuries to his legs.
Fasline’s father, Michael Fasline, a teacher in Niles schools, said Francis’ grandfather “just had cancer,” and Francis’ mother also has it.
“She came today, but she is very sick,” Michael said. His wife was sitting in the courtroom.
Michael asked that Francis be released from prison because Michael’s parents are 75 years old, “sometimes [his wife] can’t get up the steps,” Michael has to work, and “I need [Francis] to help me.”
Michael Burnett, assistant county prosecutor, asked that Francis’ disciplinary file from prison be introduced into evidence.
Later, Francis’ attorney, Mark Hanni, said issues relating to drug violations in prison were only half true, and sandpaper found in his possession was for harmless purposes.
Burnett said the prosecutor’s office opposes Fasline getting out of prison early and noted that during Fasline’s comments to the judge, Francis Fasline expressed no remorse and “said nothing about the victim, only about himself.”
Judge Rice said he would decide the issue within a few days.