Trumbull County jury sets record verdict in escape case

A Trumbull County jury, on Wednesday, took just five minutes to convict a 50-year-old Warren man of escape, a fifth-degree felony.

James D. Finlaw of Harmon Avenue NW, Warren, was convicted of not reporting to his parole officer since 2020, ending a one-day trial. He was represented by two public defenders, according to the Trumbull County Prosecutor’s office.

The case was prosecuted by First Assistant Christopher Becker in the courtroom of Common Pleas Judge Sarah T. Kovoor, who will schedule sentencing after Finlaw completes a background investigation by probation officers.

Becker called his only witness, a parole officer, who stated Finlaw was declared an absconder for non-reporting as of Dec. 14, 2020. The case was wrapped up during the noon hour with the jury coming back in five minutes with a unanimous guilty verdict.

“I believe that may have set a record for Trumbull County,” said Prosecutor Dennis Watkins.

Becker said this was “the shortest and quickest trial I have had in my career.”

“I want to thank Marissa Frasure of the Adult Parole Authority for her testimony and hard work. I further want to note that this case was the first trial in front of newly elected Judge Sarah Thomas Kovoor. Having worked with Judge Kovoor when she was a prosecutor, it was my honor to try the first jury trial in her courtroom,” Becker said.

Finlaw, who was represented at trial by public defenders Alexander Keane and Heather Ninni, was placed on post-release control after serving a prison term of 18 months for an OVI felony conviction in 2019, which included a one-year repeat violent offender specification. The case originated from a drunk driving arrest of Finlaw in Trumbull County in 2018.