Wednesday, February 13, 2002
The woman must complete an anger management course while on probation.
By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR COURTHOUSE REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- When Tina Davis was in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court last summer, she was "a time bomb just waiting to explode," said Judge R. Scott Krichbaum.
But the Tina Davis who faced Judge Krichbaum Monday was calm and in control of her anger. That's why he cut short her prison sentence and set her free on shock probation.
To ensure that she doesn't relapse, Judge Krichbaum ordered Davis to complete a stress and anger management program at Community Corrections Association on Market Street.
He placed her on probation for three years and cautioned that if she violates terms of the probation she could be made to serve the rest of her prison time.
"I took no pleasure in putting you in the penitentiary. But you absolutely had to go sit this out for a while," the judge said.
A jury convicted Davis, 38, of Powers Way, of felonious assault in May 2001. She was sentenced to four years in prison.
What happened: The charge stemmed from an altercation Davis had with a carload of men on Interstate 680 in March 2000. Davis and the driver of the other car became angry at each other, exchanging hand gestures as they drove.
When the other vehicle exited the freeway onto U.S. Route 224 in Boardman, Davis followed it to the parking lot of a restaurant where a heated argument ensued. It ended when Davis got back into her car and ran over one of the men, who was running across the parking lot.
Davis said she completed an anger management class, received counseling for alcohol abuse and performed many hours of community service while in prison. All those things helped her realize how much wrong she did.
"I'm fully aware now of how many victims I made," Davis said, speaking calmly. "I will never let anyone drive me to anger like that again."
Defense attorney Robert Rohrbaugh said Davis is a "completely different woman with a new attitude."
bjackson@vindy.com