Staff photo / Chris McBride Allyson Long, 26, of Niles, faces the jurors Thursday afternoon as Common Pleas Judge Andrew D. Logan reads off the guilty verdict on two counts of third-degree strangulation and one count of abduction, and jurors found her guilty on a lesser charge of assault.

WARREN — A jury deliberated for three hours to find a 26-year-old woman guilty on multiple charges of strangulation and abduction. Allyson Long, of Niles, could be looking toward a six-year prison term once she’s sentenced July 9 following the conclusion of a probation office-conducted background check.

Thursday afternoon Long faced jurors as Common Pleas Judge Andrew D. Logan read guilty verdicts on two counts of third-degree strangulation and one count of abduction, and jurors found her guilty on a lesser charge of assault.

The jury chose not to convict her of the more severe charge of felonious assault, which prosecuting attorney Kevin J. Trapp said stemmed from an attempt by Long to attack the victim with a salt lamp.

When asked what led to the jurors’ decision, Trapp said he was unsure and intended to speak with the jury after the court was cleared.

“I think there was sufficient evidence all around so I’m curious about that decision, the salt rock lamp missed, but it was a big, heavy item and alleged to have been thrust upon her head, it missed, so it didn’t cause a huge amount of damage but the attempt itself I think would’ve been felonious assault,” he said.

Trapp said he was nonetheless understanding that it was the jurors’ decision and ultimately was satisfied with their verdict.

“The victim I believe feels satisfied to a good extent about everything,” Trapp said. “This was a harrowing experience but she got some justice for everything she suffered and this gives her some measure of feeling that something is going to be done with Allyson (Long).”

The case revolved around an incident from Dec.12, 2023.

Long and the victim were in a relationship when Long, who was drinking, accused the victim of seeing someone else at the victim’s Howland residence.

Trapp explained that Long got angry at the victim and went into a “violent rage” where Long struck the victim and placed her hands around the victim’s neck, nearly to the point where the victim passed out.

Trapp reiterated that the felonious assault came from the alleged attack with the salt rock lamp. The prosecuting attorney also explained that the victim alleged Long brought out kitchen knives to play Russian roulette, to “cut each other, whoever dies first,” Trapp described the allegation. He also said there was an alleged attempt by Long to hit the victim with a mirror.

The usage of all through items Trapp said made up the criteria of the charge which is to “attempt to cause physical harm by means of a deadly weapon.” The abduction charge, Trapp said, stemmed from Long restraining the victim while beating her and ransacking her home.

Trapp said he believed the strangulation charge was made clear to jurors through photographic evidence displayed to them throughout the three-day trial.

After the courtroom was cleared, defense attorney Jim Schoren expressed disappointment with the jury’s decision to the Tribune Chronicle.

“We were hoping for an acquittal on all charges,” Scoren said. But, the attorney was satisfied with one of the decisions the jury made.

“They did not convict her on the most serious charge, the felonious assault, so there’s something good about that.”