A man involved in an officer-involved shooting in Boardman who previously pled guilty to multiple charges has now withdrawn that plea in favor of a jury trial according to court employees.

According to court records, 26-year-old Damian Cessna pled guilty to charges of felonious assault, aggravated menacing and obstructing official business in May of 2023. 

Court records show Cessna was originally supposed to be sentenced on these charges on August 25. However, this hearing has since been canceled and a pretrial hearing has been set for January 31 and a jury trial is set to begin February 5.

The charges stem from an incident in July of 2021 when police were investigating Cessna who was riding a bike while holding a baseball bat and later threatened officers with a knife according to Boardman Police Chief, Todd Werth.

Werth says Cessna was ordered several times to drop the weapon and was eventually shot at by officers.

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