Man with violent history pleads guilty again
YOUNGSTOWN — Raynell J. Jones, 51, of Four Mile Run Road in Austintown, pleaded guilty to felony domestic violence and misdemeanor criminal endangering or damaging charges Monday for a Sept. 14 incident in Austintown.
Mahoning County prosecutors will recommend that Jones get three years in prison when he is sentenced at 1 p.m. Feb. 6, said Daniel Yozwiak, assistant county prosecutor. Jones’ attorney, Nick Brevetta, can argue for less.
Jones’ indictment states that Jones tried to cause physical harm to a family or household member, a third-degree felony punishable by up to three years in prison.
The misdemeanor charge states that he caused or created a substantial risk of physical harm to a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu belonging to a woman without her consent.
The charge is elevated because Jones was convicted of previous domestic violence charges in 1995 in Cleveland, and in 1995 and 2009 in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court.
One count of felonious assault and one of misdemeanor assault were dismissed in exchange for Jones’ guilty plea. That offense alleged that he tried to harm one or more people with a knife.
Jones has been in the Mahoning County jail since Sept. 15, according to jail records.
Mahoning County Common Pleas Judge John Durkin said Jones could get up to three years in prison, but he also could get probation.
Brevetta noted that he would like Jones to be screened for alcohol use because Jones believes that “his addictions, specifically alcohol led to” this case.
The judge said in addition to asking for a presentence investigation into Jones’ background and criminal history that Jones be assessed for substance abuse.