gvogrin@tribtoday.com
The only woman on Ohio’s death row has seen her latest appeal for post-conviction relief fail.
The Ohio Supreme Court on Tuesday announced it has declined to review the decision by Ohio’s 11th District Court of Appeals that upheld the conviction and death sentence of Donna Roberts. The Howland woman was charged in the 2001 murder of her husband, Robert Fingerhut, at the couple’s Fonderlac Drive home.
Roberts, 76, was convicted along with her boyfriend Nathaniel Jackson, who shot Fingerhut to death on Dec. 11, 2001.
Roberts had filed an appeal saying she had ineffective counsel at her jury trial and was not granted an evidence hearing during the appeals process. In August 2020, the 11th District court disagreed, with Judge Matt Lynch writing Roberts’ arguments had no merit. The high court decided this week not to review that appellate decision.
gvogrin@tribtoday.com
Staff photo / Guy Vogrin
Murder defendant Stefon Q. Alexander, 35, confers with his attorney Sam Zingale during Mondayâs arraignment before Trumbull County Common Pleas Court Judge Peter J. Kontos. Alexander is charged in the Aug. 2 drive-by fatal shooting on Summit Street in Warren.
WARREN A Warren man turned himself in to authorities Monday morning after he was indicted in connection to the Aug. 2 fatal shooting of a 24-year-old man who was driving a car on Summit Street NW.
Stefon Q. Alexander, 35, of Woodland Street NE, pleaded not guilty to an aggravated murder charge, which carries a gun specification.
Temporary resolution granted by judge
Dec 22, 2020
NEWTON FALLS The village’s elected 3rd Ward councilwoman, Tesa Spletzer, was a part of Monday’s council meeting.
At a hearing earlier the same day, Judge Andrew Logan ruled via a virtual hearing from Trumbull County Common Pleas Court that Spletzer will take the seat and is the duly elected councilperson until a legal issue is resolved.
The previous ward councilman, Lyle Waddell, who filed a lawsuit challenging the Nov. 3 election, had asked Logan for a continuance until a hearing could be held.
Prior to the ruling, Waddell was representing himself. But the latest court documents show Waddell is searching for an attorney.
rsmith@tribtoday.com
WARREN A former city events coordinator pleaded guilty to one count of theft in office and must undergo a pre-sentence investigation before Trumbull County Common Pleas Court Judge Peter Kontos decides her fate.
Kisha T. Jackson, 45, sobbed as she agreed to the plea agreement. It reduced two charges of theft in office, fourth-degree felonies, to a single charge of theft in office, F-5, which, if sentenced to prison, would mean less time.
She also could be placed on probation.
Jackson, 2951 Mellgren Drive SW, has been free on a $5,000 personal recognizance bond.
Prosecutors are expected to seek some prison time.
Dec 21, 2020
WARREN A judge told a Dunstan Drive NW man he was giving him a break by sending him to an alternative community program instead of prison for a host of drug convictions.
Gary Provitt, 32, appeared before Trumbull County Common Pleas Court Judge Ronald J. Rice last week after being convicted of charges of attempted possession of a fentanyl-related compound, possession of cocaine, attempted possession of hashish and possession of marijuana.
Rice told the defendant he was giving him a break by sentencing him to five years of intensive supervision probation that will begin with a stint at the Northeast Ohio Community Alternative Program, a rehab that teaches life skills.