Newspaper's Request for Gang Members' Addresses Denied

By: A judge has denied a newspaper's request for the addresses of 33 juveniles charged with being in a gang, saying release of the information might endanger neighbors and relatives.

The Mahoning County Juvenile Court released the names and ages of the suspects who were arrested last month. Their addresses were not released.

The Vindicator newspaper's lawyer, David L. Marburger, argued that the newspaper needed the addresses to differentiate the defendants from others with the same or similar names.

Juvenile Court Judge Theresa Dellick ruled June 14 that the safety of others could be jeopardized.

"The targeting of specific neighborhoods for violence based upon misuse of this information must be considered," Dellick wrote.

She said the prosecutor's office said releasing the addresses would pose a threat to an ongoing gang investigation, and that criminal gang activities involve drive-by shootings and witness intimidation.

Dellick said the names and ages of the defendants, who range from 12 to 20, along with court-provided street quadrants, was enough information for accurate identification.