Roundup: July 18, 2008
The Chronicle-Telegram Staff
Prosecutors fight new trial for Jalowiec
ELYRIA — Stanley Jalowiec doesn’t deserve a new trial, prosecutors wrote in court documents opposing the convicted killer’s request for another chance to prove he didn’t kill a police informant in 1994.
The documents, filed Thursday, urged Lorain County Common Pleas Judge Christopher Rothgery to reject Jalowiec’s request for a new trial, saying the death row inmate has already made similar arguments in other courts and lost.
Jalowiec, 37, contends that prosecutors and police withheld evidence that would have led to him being cleared of involvement in Ronald Lally’s slaying during his 1996 trial.
Lally’s body was found in a Cleveland cemetery shortly before he was set to testify in a drug trial against Raymond Smith and his son Daniel Smith.
Daniel Smith was cleared by a jury while Raymond Smith was convicted and sentenced to death. Earlier this year, Rothgery ruled that Raymond Smith was mentally retarded and could not be executed. He sentenced Smith to life in prison instead.
Harley banner stolen from Relay for Life
ELYRIA — A motorcycle dealership banner with sentimental value was stolen Saturday morning from Elyria Relay for Life volunteers, Relay Chairman Jim Gordon said.
The black banner from Lake Erie Harley-Davidson in Avon was hanging at the Elyria Catholic High School track, but it disappeared during a downpour about 7 p.m., he said.
Gordon said dealership owner Mike Stevens donated $10,000 to Elyria Relay for Life and wanted the Harley banner displayed in honor of a friend who died of cancer.
“It’s a shame that at an event like this, people are stealing,” Gordon said. “We can always replace it, but we want this banner back. It’s special.”
If the banner reappears at the Avon dealership, 38401 Chester Road, no charges will be pursued, he said.
Lorain man takes plea deal at retrial
ELYRIA — A Lorain man was sentenced Wednesday to five years in prison on attempted murder, felonious assault and weapons charges.
But Darrell Williams, 32, will be out in two years under the terms of a plea deal he worked out with prosecutors earlier this year because he has already served about three years behind bars on federal drug charges. The state and federal sentences run will run concurrently.
Williams entered an Alford plea, in which he denied he was guilty of the charges against him but conceded that there was enough evidence to convict him.
Williams had two trials before agreeing to the plea. He was convicted in 2005 of the charges for shooting two people outside the now-shuttered Flamingo Nite Club in Lorain during an argument.
He was granted a new trial after a victim in the case, Thomas Mounts, changed his story, saying he didn’t recall who had shot him.
During Williams’ second trial earlier this year, Mounts refused to testify because prosecutors said he might be charged with perjury. Mounts’ refusal took place in front of a jury, prompting Lorain County Common Pleas Judge Raymond Ewers to declare a mistrial.
Williams took the deal to get the case over with, his attorney, Jack Bradley, said.
Man who stabbed teen pleads guilty
ELYRIA — A Lorain man entered guilty pleas Wednesday in Lorain County Common Pleas Court to felonious assault and aggravated riot for a February 2007 brawl outside Midway Mall.
Jason DeWitt, 30, stabbed then 15-year-old Dalton Estep with a pocket knife.
Kyle Kocher and Jacob Cammel were also convicted for their roles in the melee, which took place between three friends and three teenagers, including Estep.
DeWitt could get up to eight years in prison when he is sentenced later this year.
CHP offering free health screenings
ELYRIA — Free health screenings will be given from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Community Cancer Center, 41201 Schaden Road.
The tests, sponsored by Community Health Partners, include blood pressure, cholesterol, prostate, bone density, body mass index and a mini stress test.
Students honored in Earth Day contest
CLEVELAND — Students from Lorain County are among those honored at the Earth Day Coalition’s 19th Annual Art, Poetry and Essay Contest.
Selected winning pieces from the contest are on display through Aug. 2 at the Cuyahoga County Public Library’s Beachwood Branch, 25501 Shaker Blvd., Beachwood.
The exhibit is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
This year, students were asked to share thoughts on climate change solutions through drawings, paintings, photography, essays and poetry. Entries were judged on understanding on their environmental topic, creativity and originality.
Parks board to meet July 23 in Wellington
WELLINGTON — The Lorain County Metro Parks’ Board of Park Commissioners will meet at 1:30 p.m. July 23 at the Wellington Reservation Visitor Center, 535 Jones Road. The meeting is open to the public and is a regular board session.
Iron Chef Symon to be at Veg Institute
MILAN — It will be a garden of delights at the Culinary Vegetable Institute in Milan on Saturday.
A garden of delightful foods prepared by 100 of the country’s top chefs — including Food Network Iron Chef Michael Symon, chef and owner of Lola and Lolita in Cleveland.
The chefs will gather for the sixth annual Food and Wine Celebration to raise money for Veggie U, the institute’s nonprofit arm that promotes children’s health. It will be used to buy growing kits that the institute provides free to schools across the nation.
Tickets for the event, which runs from 4:30 to 9 p.m. and will also feature wines from world-renowned vineyards, are $145 and can be purchased at the door.
The Culinary Vegetable Institute is located at 12304 state Route 13 in Milan.
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Filed by The Chronicle-Telegram Staff July 18th, 2008 in Top Stories. Popularity: 3% |
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