YOUNGSTOWN — Richard L. Edwards, 49, of North Portland Avenue, pleaded guilty last week to felony domestic violence, felony strangulation and a probation violation and was sentenced to two years in prison.

He got credit for 278 days of jail time served in the Mahoning County jail awaiting trial. His two-year sentence was jointly recommended by the prosecutor and defense. Judge Anthony Donofrio of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court handed down the sentence.

The domestic violence and strangulation occurred Nov. 25, 2023, according to court records.

A Youngstown police report states that on that date, Edwards was accused of hitting a woman with brass knuckles in the back of her head and assaulting her in other ways. She had a “fresh” scratch on the top / back of her head, the report states.

Police were called to the home at 8:42 p.m. for a fight with brass knuckles. A police officer stated that the woman had “numerous scratches and bruises on (her) neck, with most being about a day old.” Some were “fresh.” Ambulance personnel took her to the hospital for treatment. The woman told police Edwards “started hitting her on Nov. 24 multiple different times, and the incident continued until Nov. 25,” the report states.

She told police Edwards “struck her multiple times with his brass knuckles, strangled her with his hands, kicked her, punched her and pulled her hair multiple times,” the report stated.

Her lip and nose were bleeding, and she had scratches on two parts of her face and on her left hand, police said. She had “large bruising on her lower back and left side.” Two bruises appeared to be from Nov. 25. A chunk of her hair was missing but hanging from the side of her head. Some hair also was hanging from the staircase, according to a police report.

Officers found the brass knuckles in the basement on top of a red sled, police said. They found the woman and Edwards in the house when they arrived.

As the woman was being taken to the ambulance, officers heard Edwards tell her, “Don’t say anything,” “Don’t write anything down,” among other things, the report stated.

The probation violation was from another 2023 case in which Edwards was convicted Nov. 3 of felony domestic violence for at least one incident in July 2023. That case was indicted as domestic violence and strangulation, but the strangulation was dismissed as part of his plea agreement in that case. Court records do not indicate the identity of the victim in that case.

Richards was sentenced to one year of probation in the July 2023 incident. Edwards’ Nov. 25, 2023, charges resulted in the probation violation. Edwards stipulated to having violated his probation as a result of the Nov. 25 charges.

Judge Donofrio sentenced Edwards Thursday to 18 months in prison for the probation violation to be served at the same time as the new convictions.

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