YOUNGSTOWN — Huan Xiau, 37, of Canfield Township, pleaded guilty before Judge Maureen Sweeney recently to aggravated assault in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.

As part of the plea, Xiau will participate in Sweeney’s Mental Health Court, also known as CARES, which stands for Change Applying Rehabilitation Education Support. In that program, a person receives treatment and can have his or her charge dismissed if he or she completes the program successfully.

Xiau’s charge is a fourth-degree felony, which could have resulted in 18 months in prison. The treatment program avoids prison time unless she violates the terms in her plea agreement, such as failing to complete the 18-month to 24-month program.

The treatment program will include drug and alcohol tests, which will be conducted individually, frequently, randomly and observed by (a) probation officer or a representative of (Sweeney’s) treatment provider, the document states.

According to a March 27, 2025, Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office report, deputies were called to Xiau’s home in Canfield Township at 6:33 p.m. for a domestic disturbance and spoke with a man there who said Xiau assaulted him and left on foot with her backpack and suitcase.

The man had multiple scratches on the side of his face, neck, down both arms and on his chest and back. He said he also was bit on the shoulder and right forearm and showed officers the bite marks.

He said Xiau had accused him of things that he did not do, then started scratching him and throwing things at him, like a flower planter, remote control, chair and perfume bottle, the report states.

“He said she came at him with four kitchen knives when (he) grabbed the one knife to avoid being stabbed and cut his right middle finger in the process,” the report states. He said she wrapped a telephone cord around his neck a couple of days ago, but he did not report it. Two children witnessed the episode, he said.

The man called Xiau on the phone and the deputy asked Xiau where she was located so deputies could talk to her. She gave the deputy the location and she was waiting outside.

She admitted to scratching the man, saying he was “spending all of their money on online computer games” and other things, the report states.

She was arrested and taken to the Mahoning County jail. She has since been released.