Bid to withdraw guilty plea nixed
By MARY ANN GREIERLISBON - A former Leetonia man imprisoned since 2007 for attacking his former wife with a broken beer bottle recently asked to withdraw his guilty plea, but the judge denied the request.
Wayne T. Mangus, 54, formerly of Grafton Road, filed the motion claiming his attorney was ineffective regarding an argument for the defendant's incompetency and that the effect of a guilty plea wasn't explained to him.
Judge C. Ashley Pike of Columbiana County Common Pleas Court refuted all of Mangus' arguments, noting that during his appeal to the 7th District Court of Appeals, the finding of competency to stand trial was affirmed.
In his ruling, he said Mangus' attorney filed a suggestion of incompetency and insanity, prompting the judge to order an evaluation for competency to stand trial. He also rescheduled the competency hearing so the defendant could have an independent evaluation, which he did. He was apparently found competent with no opposition offered, but with the court suggesting if evidence could be produced concerning his competency the court would look at the matter again.
Mangus entered a plea of guilty to felonious assault and was eventually sentenced to five years in prison for the March 9, 2006 attack which permanently disfigured the victim.
During the hearing, his daughter-in-law testified that he had vision problems. Pike said that when he agreed to the plea, his attorney read to him the plea papers, which included judicial advice and his responses. His sister was with him when his answers were written down and the responses made it clear the defendant understood the possible sentence he could face.
Pike himself talked with the defendant at length about his answers and was assured by the defendant that he understood everything, realized he was admitting he committed the crime and was satisfied with his attorney's representation.
For all those reasons, Pike denied his request to withdraw the guilty plea.
Mangus isn't scheduled for release from prison until June 4, 2012, according to the Ohio Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Web site.
Also in Common Pleas Court:
Jessie Barton, 20, of 204 Main St., Salineville, was placed on treatment plan for five years after pleading guilty to breaking and entering, a fifth-degree felony. He was found eligible for treatment in lieu of conviction due to drug dependency. Documents said Barton broke a lock and entered a shed on a Water Street property in Salineville on Jan. 8.
Mary Ann Greier can be reached at mgreier@salemnews.net
