Staff report

WARREN — A jury trial will get underway today in Trumbull County Common Pleas court in the case of 26-year-old Ronieque Requel, who stands accused of playing a role in the home invasion and subsequent shooting death of 28-year-old Adam Spaid.

The trial will begin with jury selection at 9 a.m. with opening arguments and witness testimony expected to begin later this afternoon at 1 p.m inside Judge Andrew D. Logan’s courtroom.

The state will be represented by Trumbull County Assistant Prosecutor Christopher Becker who will be pitted against defense attorney Carlo Ciccone representing the defendant. The prosecution at a court hearing in late July offered Requel a deal that would have required him to plead guilty to his charges in exchange for a prison sentence of 40-years to life.

But that offer was rejected by the defense as Requel now leaves his fate in the hands of 12 jurors who could decide whether that decison will land him a longer prison sentence.

Requel is facing two counts of aggravated murder, one count of aggravated robbery, one count of aggravated burglary, one count of having weapons while not permitted, one count of intimidation and one count of receiving stolen property. Four of the charges against him come with firearm specifications.

If convicted of all counts and specifications, he could face a maximum life prison term, and he wouldn’t be eligible for parole for at least 30 years.

THE SHOOTING

On Feb. 5, Requel was arrested at the scene shortly after all available police units were dispatched around 1 a.m. to a home in the 2000 block of Milton Street SE for a reported burglary in progress with shots fired.

When officers arrived, they discovered the body of Spaid dead of multiple gunshot wounds.

Becker said more than 30 rounds had been fired during the home invasion that included five assailants. Following the arrest, Warren police Chief Eric Merkel was pleased with the cooperation among several entities.

“This case is another example of a collaborative effort among the professional response by officers in the (police) Emergency Services Division, follow-up investigation by the (police) Criminal Investigations Division — specifically Detective Frank Tempesta — the Trumbul County Prosecutor’s Office, Warren Prosecutor Traci Timko and the public,” Merkel said at the time.

THE VICTIM

Four days after his death, the family of Spaid had a funeral service in New Middletown. His obituary stated the Youngstown native lived and worked in the area his whole life. It noted that Spaid was a construction worker who held various positions and liked camping, music and traveling to see groups in concert.

He is survived by his mother of New Middletown and a companion, Gabby McCullough of Sharon, Pa., who is listed as a victim in the police report about the murder.

In the days following Spaid’s slaying, Requel made his first appearance in Warren Municipal Court where he had a $1.5 million bond imposed upon him by Municipal Judge Thomas Gysegem. After hearing the details of the case from Becker, Common Pleas Judge Sean O’Brien ruled during Requel’s first appearance in common pleas court that he would be held without bond at the county jail.

Becker said Requel posed a “great threat to the community,” and had threatened victims and witnesses in the case.

“You can hear him threatening to kill people on the 911 call, and he also made threats that were overheard during his calls inside the jail,” Becker said.

WITNESS TESTIMONY

The second man arrested in Spaid’s murder, Christian Chaney, 17, of Struthers, was listed as one of the witnesses that was supeoned to testify at some point during the trial by the defense, according to court documents. The court document requested that Chaney appear around 1 p.m. this afternoon for his testimony.

Chaney was arrested on Feb. 17 and taken into the Trumbull County Juvenile Justice Center on charges of aggravated murder, aggravated burglary and aggravated robbery — all with specifications that a firearm was used in commission of a crime.

At a June 6 pre-trial hearing, the prosecutor’s office said they intend for Chaney to be tried as an adult.

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