Ralph E. Clark's appeal dismissed by court officials
Star Beacon
By SHELLEY TERRY
Staff Writer
sterry@starbeacon.com
WARREN - - The 11th District Appellate Court dismissed convicted murderer Ralph E. Clark's appeal because his attorney didn't file a brief, court officials said Friday.
Clark, 44, of Plymouth Township, pleaded guilty Jan. 13 to aggravated murder with a gun specification in a negotiated plea arranged between his court appointed attorney, Hobart Shiflet, and county prosecutors. Two other counts of murder were dropped.
Ashtabula County Common Pleas Judge Ronald Vettel then sentenced Clark to life in prison with the possibility of parole in 28 years.
Shiflet filed an appeal Jan. 23 with the 11th District Appellate Court, according to court records. However, Shiflet never filed an appellate brief and, after four months, the case was dismissed, court officials said.
Shiflet could not be reached for comment.
Before his sentencing, Clark told Vettel he purposely killed his wife, 43-year-old Carolyn Clark, by beating her in the head with the stock of a rifle on May 7, 2005, at her Park Avenue apartment in Ashtabula. The youngest five of the couple's 13 children were in the apartment at the time. Carolyn Clark had been granted temporary custody of the children and planned to move to Virginia with them to be closer to her family.
Carolyn Clark made the move because she feared for the safety of her children, according to her attorney, Jane Hawn-Jackson of Ashtabula.
Clark accused the leaders of her former church - - the Apostolic Faith Church in Jefferson Township - - of sexual abuse, child abuse and cult-like behavior.
As of Friday, no one from the church has been charged with a crime.
Ashtabula County Children Services continues to investigate allegations of child abuse. Several adults, who have left the church, have gained custody of their children from spouses remaining as members.
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