YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Congratulations to Assistant Prosecutor Kristie Weibling, who has had 20 successful decisions in favor of the state in 2025. In May 2025, Christopher Hill was convicted and sentenced for Felonious Assault and Child Endangering following a Bench trial in March 2025. The conviction and sentence were affirmed by the Seventh District Court of Appeals in December, 2025.
Hill appealed the conviction of Child Endangering and Felonious Assault. Hill’s argued that the State didn’t prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he “knowingly caused serious physical harm to the victim.” The Seventh District Court of Appeals upheld the Felonious Assault conviction based on the testimony of ten witnesses, including the victim, medical professionals, and law enforcement officials. The Seventh District Court of Appeals held the judge properly determined, based upon the evidence in the record, that the State proved each element of felonious assault. The Court of Appeals also rejected Hill’s claim that his use of “corporal punishment” was not unreasonable and excessive abuse. The Seventh District Court of Appeals disagreed with that notion and held that the trial court was correct in its conviction.
Ultimately, the appeals court affirmed the trial court’s decision in full. Assistant Prosecutor Kristie Weibling successfully prosecuted the case on appeal. The Mahoning County Prosecutor’s Office’s appellate division has 21 successful decisions in favor of the state in 2025.
