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Appeal filed in assault case

WARREN — The Johnstown, Pa., man who was found guilty by a Trumbull County jury last month of a felony charge connected to the October assault of Brookfield police Chief Daniel Faustino has appealed his conviction to the Ohio 11th District Court of Appeals.

A notice of appeal to the appeals court was filed Tuesday by attorney Michael A. Partlow on behalf of Raheem Brantley, court records show. Brantley was convicted on a felony charge of assault on a police officer as well as a misdemeanor resisting arrest charge.

A jury of six men and six women deliberated for about two-and-a half-hours before rendering the guilty verdict against Brantley on Jan. 10 in the courtroom of Common Pleas Judge Ronald J. Rice. On Jan. 19, Rice sentenced Brantley, 30, to 18 months in prison.

In the two-day trial, testimony came from Brookfield police Chief Daniel Faustino and officer Jay First, who described how Brantley punched the chief in the left cheek in an attempt to flee from questioning after two women were arrested after a passing bad check call at Mr. D’s Food Fair, 7156 Warren Sharon Road. Brantley was riding in a car that had dropped the women off and was parked outside the nearby Subway restaurant. The chief said he was not hurt and did not receive treatment from the punch.

Brantley took the stand in his own defense, denying ever striking or pushing the chief during his attempted escape. Brantley admitted to running because he realized he was violating a federal parole from a 2013 forgery conviction.

Partlow, a Kent attorney, said the next step in the appeal process is a filing of the trial record with the court, which will take place either in April or May.

gvogrin@tribtoday.com

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