Wednesday, August 28, 2002
The judge also placed the former police officer on probation and suspended his license.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- A jail sentence has been cut short for a former Howland Township police officer.
Judge Andrew Logan of Trumbull County Common Pleas Court allowed Tim Albu to be released from prison Aug. 14 after serving little more than half his sentence.
Albu, who pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of vehicular homicide and reckless assault, was sentenced June 4 to 120 days in jail.
House arrest
Court records indicate he is to serve 49 days of house arrest after his release.
The judge also placed Albu on probation for a year and suspended his driver's license for two years.
Neither Albu nor his attorney, David Betras, could be reached.
Albu, 23, who was a part-time police officer with the Howland Township Police Department, caused a traffic crash Nov. 10 that killed Delbert Lambert, 47, of Niles.
Albu had worked for the department for about a year, township officials said.
Police reports state that Albu was driving south on Ridge Road on his way to assist in a traffic stop, considered a nonemergency call, when his cruiser crossed the center line and struck a car driven by Chad W. Mitchell, 23, of Niles.
Mitchell and one passenger, Cammie R. Kosak, 19, of Niles, were treated for injuries.
Lambert, the other passenger, died. Albu was not hurt.
Betras had said at the time of Albu's sentence that he believed the four-month jail sentence was too harsh.
The attorney said Albu's "sin was blind ambition." He noted that Albu had always wanted to be a police officer.
Speed
Ken Bailey, an assistant county prosecutor, said Albu was speeding on his way to the call. Police have said Albu was going 30 mph over the speed limit.
Nancy Lambert, Delbert's wife, said at sentencing she wanted to make sure that Albu received some jail time.
Lambert filed a civil lawsuit in July. The suit names Albu and township trustees as defendants.
sinkovich@vindy.com