5 teens plead guilty to charges in Canfield fight

By Elise Franco

Four of the teens involved in the fight decide to go to trial.

CANFIELD — Five young men involved in a fight at a city residence in February accepted a plea agreement Wednesday.

Dan McGlone, 18, of Boardman; Matthew McWilson, 18, of Youngstown; Nicholaos Frangopoulos, 18, of Poland; Owen Timlin, 18, of Youngstown; and Scott Johnson, 18, of North Jackson; were in Mahoning County Court in Canfield before Judge Scott Hunter.

They were among 10 young men, plus four juveniles, caught on a surveillance camera just before 1 a.m. in a Feb. 22 assault on Michael Malvasi Jr., 18, of Canfield, at his Timber Run Drive home.

The five on Wednesday night pleaded guilty to charges of aggravated trespass; three also pleaded to assault.

The plea agreements centered on lower fines and less jail time, explained Prosecutor Nick Modarelli.

Judge Hunter addressed the defendants as a group before sentencing, making sure the defendants understood their pleas.

Police reports said the fight resulted after a fight earlier that morning in which Malvasi reportedly punched Dominic Jackett, 18, of Youngstown, on Fox Haven Drive in the township.

McGlone and Timlin were given a $150 fine, 180 days in Mahoning County jail with 177 days suspended, 180 hours of community service, drug, alcohol and anger management classes, 12 months’ probation and will have to testify in any of the remaining cases that go to trial.

McWilson, Johnson and Frangopoulos were given 180 days in jail with 175 suspended and a $400 fine because they also faced an assault charge, as well as 180 hours of community service, drug, alcohol and anger management classes, 12 months’ probation and testifying in any remaining cases that go to trial.

Jackett; Kyle White, 18, of Boardman; Michael Thomas, 18, of Boardman; and Adam Wheeler, 18, of Poland, decided not to take the plea agreement and will appear in court at 9 a.m. Oct. 5 for individual jury trials.

Modarelli said he’s pleased with the pleas and will focus now on the cases going to trial.

“These young men stepped up and took responsibility,” he said. “Now we have to go forward with the trials for the other ones.”

Peter Bernat, 19, of Youngstown, pleaded no contest June 5 in Mahoning County Area Court in Canfield to a charge of aggravated trespass.

Bernat’s plea agreement included a $150 fine, 180 days in Mahoning County jail with 177 days suspended, 48 hours of community service, drug, alcohol and anger management classes, 12 months’ probation and testifying in any of the cases that go to trial.

Malvasi is charged with assault in relation to the incident on Fox Haven and is scheduled for a hearing July 15.

efranco@vindy.com

(This story was corrected on June 18, 2009.)