LISBON — John Arsuffi, the Leetonia space man charged in Common Pleas Court with 9 counts of cruelty to companion animals, had his March jury trial postponed on Monday.
Defense lawyer Donald Malarcik requested a continuance for Arsuffi, largely on account of medical causes.
Arsuffi, 64, had lived in a house on state Route 558, Leetonia, however an explosion on the house in May 2021 induced him extreme burns, which he continues to obtain therapy for to today. In his movement filed with the courtroom, Malarcik detailed a few of the considerations Arsuffi’s burns, reportedly over 40 p.c of his physique, proceed to create for him.
The indictment in opposition to Arsuffi charging him with 9 counts of cruelty to companion animals took place two months earlier than the explosion, which the lawyer attributed to a gasoline scorching water heater.
A standing convention is now scheduled for May 9.
Arsuffi was the primary individual charged in Columbiana County with a felony cruelty to animals cost after the passage of Goddard’s Law, which allowed for some heinous cruelty costs to be indicted on the felony degree. At the time costs have been filed, County Prosecutor Vito Abruzzino indicated seven canines have been discovered deceased from obvious hunger on Arsuffi’s property in early 2021, with one other two emaciated however alive.