Man sentenced for hitting pedestrian in Trumbull County car chase

WARREN, Ohio (WKBN) – A man arrested last August after he showed police dashcam footage of him hitting a pedestrian in the street will be spending more than a year behind bars.

Pointing to Mohamed Mekni’s “unnecessary and belligerent” actions, Judge Cynthia Westcott Rice sentenced him to 18 months in prison.

Mekni previously pleaded guilty to a vehicular assault charge.

The case stems from a Trumbull County car chase incident that turned into a hit-and-run involving a pedestrian.

The victim, Andrew Conoboy, was seriously hurt. He addressed the court saying he has a titanium plate, eight screws, and still doesn’t have full movement of his wrist, which affects his writing and work. He said he’d like to see Mekni behind bars.

“In my eyes, he should go to jail or prison. But that’s not up to me, that’s up to you,” Conoboy said.

Mekni apologized in court.

“I just want to say I am sorry. I did not mean to hurt no one — never my intention to hurt anyone. I was stupid. I don’t now what I was thinking. I really ask for a second chance,” Mekni said.

As part of Mekni’s sentence, his driver’s license was also suspended for four years.

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