Hubbard man convicted of driving car into man released early from prison

Staff report

WARREN

After spending about 31/2 years locked up for driving his car into another man’s legs outside of a Hubbard bar in September 2012, Francis Fasline is going home.

Fasline, 25, will be on probation for five years and will be on electronically monitored house arrest for the first six months.

Judge Ronald Rice of Trumbull County Common Pleas Court ordered that Fasline not use any illegal drugs or consume any alcohol, nor enter any bars, taverns, liquor establishments or casinos during his probation, which began later Friday.

He has a curfew prohibiting him from being out between midnight and 7 a.m. unless he has permission from his probation officers.

The county prosecutor’s office opposed Fasline being released early. He still had about 18 months left on his sentence.

Fasline “was 21 years old at the time of the underlying offense,” Judge Rice said during a hearing Friday. “There is no doubt the arrogance and hastiness of youth, as well as alcohol, played a large role in the defendant’s choices that evening.”

“Three years of a young adult life served behind bars is a sobering sentence, appropriate and well deserved in this case,” the judge continued. But that time “has adequately punished the defendant,” he added.

Fasline caused serious injuries to the legs and back of a man, 29, of Sharpsville, Pa., after the two had an earlier confrontation.

Fasline was convicted at trial of felonious assault and tampering with evidence.

Fasline’s mother has cancer, and during a hearing Wednesday, his father, Michael Fasline, asked that Francis be able to come home to help care for her.