YOUNGSTOWN Man gets 9 years in assault on woman

The defendant didn't show up for his original August 2002 sentencing date.
By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR COURTHOUSE REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- He was about 10 months late, but Keith D. Crockett made it to court for sentencing Wednesday.
The long delay brought him more time in prison. Judge R. Scott Krichbaum of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court sentenced him to nine years.
Crockett, 20, of Victor Avenue, pleaded guilty in June 2002 to three counts of felonious assault. Police said he shot a woman, then fired into a crowd of people, wounding two of them, in September 2000.
He and a companion went to the Hillman Street home to confront a man they thought had stolen a CD player from Crockett's relative.
Didn't show
After the plea, Crockett was allowed to remain out of jail to await sentencing, which was set for Aug. 1, 2002. When the sentencing date rolled around, everyone showed up except Crockett. Judge Krichbaum issued a warrant for his arrest, and authorities finally tracked him down about three weeks ago.
Defense attorney Anthony Meranto said he doesn't know where Crockett was hiding.
"He knew he was going [to prison] and apparently decided to run," Meranto said.
Crockett could have gotten as little as three years or as much as 27 years. As part of a plea agreement, assistant prosecutor Patrick R. Pochiro did not make a sentencing recommendation.
Judge Krichbaum sentenced Crockett to two years for each felonious assault charge and three years for a firearm specification, which means he used a gun to commit the crimes. Lawyers had originally discussed concurrent sentences, meaning he would have served only three years. But Wednesday, after Crockett's 10-month absence, the judge ordered them served consecutively.
Under Ohio law, the judge has the final say on sentencing.
bjackson@vindy.com