Staff photo / Ed Runyan Paul Stonework pleaded guilty to a bill of information charging him with two counts of felonious assault and two misdemeanor counts of domestic violence for a Nov. 27 incident in Youngstown involving a knife, Stonework is now entering Mahoning County Veteran’s Honor Court, which provides treatment and a chance to have convictions erased. At right is defense attorney Tom Zena.

YOUNGSTOWN — Paul Stonework, 50, of Erie Street, pleaded guilty Thursday to two counts of felonious assault and two counts of misdemeanor domestic violence in a Nov. 27 incident at a home on Linwood Avenue in which he told police he accidentally stabbed a woman.

Stonework’s plea includes the opportunity to enter Mahoning County Veterans Honor Court. Stonework is a Marine Corps veteran. Honor Court allows a military veteran to avoid jail time while addressing and treating underlying issues that contributed to criminal behavior.

If the person completes the program successfully, his or her criminal charges are dismissed.

Stonework’s charges stemmed from a Nov. 27 incident on Linwood Avenue in Youngstown in which Stonework got into a verbal altercation with a woman, and it “escalated into a physical one,” Assistant Mahoning County Prosecutor Katherine Jones said during Stonework’s plea hearing. The incident happened on Thanksgiving.

Stonework had a knife during the altercation, leading to cuts on one woman’s hands, and another woman had a laceration on her arm.

During the hearing, Judge Anthony D’Apolito asked the two victims if they were OK with Stonework being admitted to the program. They agreed with the idea.

The program meets in D’Apolito’s courtroom once per week, and Stonework will begin right away. He also was going to be transferred from the Mahoning County jail right away to stay at a transitional housing program for homeless veterans in the Youngstown area.

Honor Court Director Derick Young told D’Apolito that Stonework is “qualified” and “good to go.”

Stonework’s attorney, Tom Zena, thanked D’Apolito and the Honor Court team for setting up and running this program and said that Stonework has waived his right to have the case presented to a Mahoning County grand jury and have it handled this way, with Stonework pleading guilty to the offenses.

As part of Stonework’s guilty plea to a bill of information, he is ordered to have no contact with the woman who had cuts to her hands.

D’Apolito wanted Stonework to understand the “opportunity that we are all giving her today. These are serious charges,” D’Apolito said. The second-degree felony felonious assaults carry a presumption of prison.”

D’Apolito said the fact that the two victims were in court Thursday “asking that I do this” is why D’Apolito is allowing Stonework to participate in Honor Court.

He told Stonework to “trust that I am going to help you and the team is going to help you.” He said not to be too proud to accept help.”

Stonework could go to prison for eight years if he fails to complete the program.

A Youngstown police report states that an officer asked Stonework before he took him to jail Nov. 27 for his “side of the story.” Stonework said he was staying with one of the women until he could get his own place.

He and the other woman got into a verbal argument about him living there. He went to his room in the attic to “cool off.” He said he could still hear one of the women talking. He said he went to the room of one of the women to apologize. But when he got there, he “went after” her instead.

He said he should not have, but he “slammed her.” And in the process of doing that, he cut one of the women with the knife he had in his hand, the report states.