JEFFERSON — Emma Candela of Ashtabula, the ex-wife of convicted sex offender, Louis Candela, spoke out publicly Friday after his sentence hearing before Common Pleas Judge Gary Yost. Holding back tears, the mother and grandmother said, “I don’t think the sentence was long enough for what he did to me, my daughter, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.”
Emma Candela said that for years she trusted her ex-husband not believing he was capable of molesting family members. The investigation by law enforcement officials and the Ashtabula County Children Services took more than a year before the Ashtabula County prosecutor office got an indictment 15 months ago.
“He tore my family apart. We didn’t know or realize what he did to the children,” she said tearfully adding the family including young victims are being helped through counseling.
A grown grandchild assaulted as a youngster, Rhonda Massena, stated she finally reported the suspicious criminal acts to Ashtabula County Children Services investigators.
“I knew he was still doing it. I’m not afraid to be identified now and speak the truth,” Massena said. She had suspicions Candela was still abusing younger step-grandchildren and decided to step forward.
“There were rumors of what he was doing. No one wanted to speak up or believe it. I finally stepped forward. Now I can move on. He (Candela) was finally caught,” Massena said.
Local News
Sex offender’s family speaks on his sentencing
- Local News
-
-
Sports, academics to come together
SPIRE Institute will expand its educational base and accept international students into its sports performance programs through a partnership with the Andrews Osborne Academy, Ted Meekma, SPIRE management team member, announced Wednesday.
-
Grand Valley sixth grader wins Ashtabula County Spelling Bee
James Elliott, a sixth grader at Grand Valley Middle School, clinched his win of the 29th annual Ashtabula County Area V Spelling Bee by successfully spelling the words “physique” and “daffodil.”
-
Conneaut Chamber lauds top citizen, ‘Champions’
Nicholas Iarocci, Conneaut’s 2011 Citizen of the Year, needed plenty of gulps of water to complete his acceptance speech Tuesday night.
-
Conneaut’s unpaved roads will get priority status in 2012
Secondary roads in Conneaut will get the lion’s share of attention from the Public Works’ Department this year, said City Manager Tim Eggleston.
-
Felony charge filed in robbery
An Ashtabula woman who police said grabbed a woman’s purse inside a Conneaut supermarket late Monday afternoon faces a felony charge in Conneaut Municipal Court, according to reports.
-
Ashtabula County building projects readied for bids
Up to four improvement projects for county-owned buildings are being lined up for bids in the next month.
-
City of Ashtabula looking for new auditor
Six candidates have applied for city auditor, which City Council President J.P. Ducro IV says he hopes to fill by the end of March.
-
Red Cross holding breakfast for ‘Community Heroes’
The Red Cross Community Heroes Breakfast will honor 12 county residents March 3 at the Bernard Vacca Community Center.
-
New film showcases county’s scenic rivers
Ohio’s Scenic Rivers program, which protects stretches of 14 waterways — including three in Ashtabula County — is the focus of a new movie by a Dayton-based independent filmmaker.
-
Students can donate clothing to Goodwill
Many Ashtabula Area City Schools students will find themselves cleaning out their closets this week.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Sports, academics to come together
