×

Domestic fight leads to ‘plethora’ of charges

WARREN — A Warren Township man is being held in Trumbull County Jail without bond after being arraigned Wednesday on a “plethora” of charges stemming from an incident in his neighborhood that apparently started as a domestic fight.

Jimmie Stella Jr., 37, 670 Seventh St., appeared via video before Warren Municipal Judge Thomas Gysegem who entered a plea of not guilty for Stella on seven felony charges: two counts of abduction, felonious assault, aggravated menacing, vandalism, having weapons under disability and receiving stolen property, court records show. Stella also pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor domestic violence charge.

Stella told a judge he wanted to be interviewed by the public defender’s office.

“The operative word here is plethora, as in many charges,” Gysegem told Stella.

The charges stem from an incident about 2:38 a.m. Wednesday in which township police were called to 670 Seventh St. SW. According to township police Chief Donald Bishop, the man had beaten his wife, who escaped to a neighbor’s house.

Bishop said the man, who was distracted by his dogs, then went after his wife. Bishop said the man pulled a gun on a next-door neighbor seeking the whereabouts of his wife and then assaulted the man

Christine Stella, who is eight months pregnant, was in court for her husband’s arraignment Wednesday. With a face swollen from bruises, the woman said she spent most of the night at the hospital getting checked. The woman added this was the first time her husband acted violent and jealous toward her.

“He had to be on something,” said Christine Stella, who at times was sobbing during the proceedings.

If convicted of all charges, Jimmie Stella faces a maximum sentence of about 21 years in prison.

Bishop, who was not in court, said a search of Stella’s house produced five guns, one of which was stolen.

Gysegem also set March 2 hearings on a probation violation for Stella’s April 2016 conviction on a driving under the influence charge and his $803 in unpaid fines and costs.

Common Pleas Court records show Stella was sentenced by Judge Andrew D. Logan on Feb. 8, 2012, to three years in prison after being convicted of two counts of possession of cocaine and one count of possessing a weapon as a convicted felon.

In that case, records show Stella forfeited $3,705 in cash as a specification of the drug charges.

gvogrin@tribtoday.com

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
     

COMMENTS

Starting at $4.85/week.

Subscribe Today