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Trumbull inmate up for release

Had parole revoked after incident in Campbell

By Guy Vogrin 2 min read

Trumbull County inmate Terrance Stargell is serving a prison sentence of 15-to-70 years for convictions of one count each of gross sexual imposition, felonious assault, aggravated burglary and rape.

Prosecutor Dennis Watkins wants to make sure that Stargell stays in prison to serve his full term.

Stargell, 62, who is housed in Chillicothe Correctional Institution, will be up for parole this fall and will have a hearing before the parole board next month, according to the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections website.

Watkins has written the parole board five times asking members to keep Stargell locked up. In his most recent letter, dated July 13 to board chair Alicia Handwerk, Watkins calls the inmate a "documented sociopath."

"At his age, (if released) he would likely only wreak havoc on society," Watkins wrote.

Watkins pointed out that the board allowed parole for Stargell in 2009, and he stalked a worker to victimize at a dollar store in Campbell. He pulled a knife and threw a gallon of milk on a male co-worker who tried to intervene, Watkins wrote. The woman's testimony against Stargell put him back in prison.

The website "blockparole.com" tells the story of Stargell's first crime that landed him the consecutive prison sentences.

"On New Years Day 1987 Stargell broke into the (Loveless Avenue Southwest, Warren) home of 62-year-old Isabelle Martin. Ms. Martin, who was speech impaired, lived with her dog "Boo." After entering the home, Stargell stabbed the dog to death in front of the woman. Stargell then bound her, and his accomplice began removing items from her home. While the accomplice was stealing. Stargell repeatedly raped the female victim. Stargell was arrested after the woman called 911. A jury convicted him in April 1987.

Watkins noted his more than 80 conduct violations in prison before his parole. "He's had much more since," he wrote.

The website, organized by Bret Vinocur of Upper Arlington, Ohio, noted Martin died a few years ago and spent the remainder of her life haunted by what Stargell did to her.

"We believe to further the interests of justice and to protect the community Terrance Stargell should be required to serve his maximum sentence of 70 years in prison," Vinocur wrote.

An attempt to contact a member of the state Public Defender's office to speak on behalf of Stargell was unsuccessful.

Starting at /week.