D’Apolito files to run for vacant seat

D’Apolito files to run for vacant seat

YOUNGSTOWN

Judge David A. D’Apolito of Mahoning County Area Court in Austintown filed nominating petitions Tuesday to run for a vacant seat on the 7th District Court of Appeals as a Democrat.

Judge D’Apolito is seeking to succeed Mary DeGenaro, who was recently appointed to the Ohio Supreme Court.

Judge Maureen Sweeney of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court has already announced she’s running for the position as a Republican.

Judge D’Apolito served as a magistrate in 1997 and held that position until he was elected to the county court in 2000. He was re-elected in 2004, 2010 and 2016. He’s been an attorney since 1989. He is a graduate of Boardman High School, Youngstown State University and the University of Akron School of Law.

The 7th District hears cases on appeal from lower courts in Mahoning, Columbiana, Belmont, Carroll, Harrison, Jefferson, Monroe and Noble counties.

Suspect in home invasion booked

YOUNGSTOWN

A suspect in a Jan. 23 home invasion where the homeowner had to be hospitalized with a head injury and several guns were taken was booked into the Mahoning County jail Monday.

Justin Pitts, 36, of Youngstown, is facing charges of kidnapping, aggravated burglary and theft of a motor vehicle. Pitts was taken to the jail from the Columbiana County jail, where he was being held on unrelated charges.

Reports said two men managed to get inside the victim’s home in the 700 block of East Midlothian Boulevard on the South Side, hit him in the head and took nine guns and his truck.

Some of the stolen guns have been recovered, said Detective Sgt. Michael Lambert. He said a woman in the Columbiana County jail on unrelated charges is expected to be charged in the Youngstown case also. Lambert said there will be more arrests.

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