YOUNGSTOWN Man gets 20 months for parole violation

Attornies recommended a year in prison, but the judge said it's not enough.
By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR COURTHOUSE REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- An Auburndale Avenue man accused of kicking in an apartment door looking for his ex-girlfriend was sent to prison Thursday for violating terms of his probation.
Judge James C. Evans of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court said 20 months in a penitentiary might help Daniel Ifft curb his anger.
"You have a severe temper problem," Judge Evans told Ifft. "We've got to have you get that temper under control."
The best way to do that, he said, is to show Ifft that the courts mean business.
"We're not going to tolerate this type of action, whether you're under the influence of booze or drugs or whatever," Judge Evans said.
Judge Evans gave Ifft credit for 150 days he's been in the county jail. Ohio law requires that credit be given for jail time.
Prior offenses
Ifft was before Judge Evans in April 2001, when he pleaded guilty to two counts of domestic violence. Deena Calabrese, assistant prosecutor, said he'd assaulted two female relatives. Judge Evans placed him on probation for two years and ordered him to undergo domestic violence counseling.
One month ago, Ifft was arrested by city police after a Ferndale Avenue woman reported that he'd come to her apartment and kicked the doors open. Ifft was apparently looking for his ex-girlfriend, who was hiding in a closet.
"He does have a bit of a temper," said defense attorney Walter Ritchie. He chalked it up to a drug habit, for which Ifft has not received help.
Ifft entered the apartment, but fled before finding the woman because police were on the way, Calabrese said.
Trespassing
He now faces charges of criminal trespass and criminal damaging in Youngstown Municipal Court. Those charges were the reason for his probation violation on the domestic violence charges.
Calabrese and Ritchie had recommended that Ifft be sentenced to a year behind bars, but the judge would not go along with that. He imposed a 10-month term for each count and ordered them served consecutively.
bjackson@vindy.com