Warren Township man being held on $2 million bond in October shooting death

Staff report

WARREN

Bond was set at $2 million for Jimmy R. Stella Jr., 37, of 7th Street Southwest, accused of the Oct. 17 shooting death of Mark Cleveland, 66.

The shooting happened at Cleveland’s house on Bane Street Southwest in Warren Township, not far from where Stella lives.

Cleveland was shot in the leg while standing near a second-story window. He bled to death because the shot hit a major artery, a family member said.

Stella pleaded not guilty Friday before Judge Andrew Logan of Trumbull County Common Pleas Court.

Stella also told reporters, “I am not guilty,” as he was led by deputies into the courthouse before the hearing.

Gina Buccino Arnaut, assistant county prosecutor, mentioned that Stella is facing murder and other charges and is also on probation in Pennsylvania before recommending the $2 million bond.

In addition to murder, a grand jury Thursday indicted Stella on charges of being a repeat violent offender, improperly discharging a firearm into a habitation and two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

The repeat violent offender charge stems from his being convicted in Trumbull County of robbery in a 1997 case.

He has been in the jail since Feb. 22, when he was charged with two counts of felonious assault, two counts of kidnapping, one count of domestic violence and two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm for an incident near his home involving his pregnant wife.

Prosecutors say evidence gained at Stella’s home in the Feb. 22 incident led police to charge Stella in the murder, though they would not say what the evidence was.

According to a police report, police confiscated five firearms and ammunition from Stella’s home Feb. 22, including a Ruger handgun. According to his indictment, Stella was in possession of a Ruger handgun the day of the homicide.