MAHONING COUNTY Officials go to bat for coach in sex case

The judge will consider early release after he serves at least 19 months.
By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR COURTHOUSE REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Judge Maureen A. Cronin shook her head as she thumbed through a notebook filled with letters of support for Anthony Panici, former Lowellville High School football coach.
The letters described Panici as a pillar of the community, always willing to pitch in and help others. Many spoke of his contributions as a football coach.
"His values and beliefs are of the highest ethical standards," Councilman Ronald T. Rotunno wrote in a letter to Judge Cronin. "Every community needs this type of person to instill such values to all."
Panici, 35, of West Wood Street, was sentenced Thursday in common pleas court to three years in prison for having sex with a 14-year-old girl in 1999. Judge Cronin said she will consider shock probation for Panici after he serves at least 19 months.
Panici pleaded guilty in August to five counts of gross sexual imposition. The girl consented to sex with him, but it was still illegal because she was a juvenile.
Panici was the head football coach and a student teacher at Lowellville High School in 1999. The girl was a freshman at Lowellville at the time but was not in any of Panici's classes. The two met over the Internet.
Rotunno was one of at least five village officials who wrote letters of support for Panici. Others were Mayor Joseph Rossi, village Administrator Phillip Alfano and Councilmen James P. Alfano and Keith P. McCaughtry.
Defense attorney Dennis DiMartino said he submitted 126 letters to the court from people who spoke of Panici's character. Nearly 60 people were in the courtroom Thursday to support Panici.
'Sports above morals'
Judge Cronin said many of the letter writers seemed to excuse Panici's behavior, while the community turned on the victim, ostracizing her and causing her family to move to another town.
"This community shunned this victim. Shame on those people," the judge said. "It's one thing to be supportive. It's another thing to throw stones at this victim.
"We still put sports above education and morals. We still have elected officials who believe that these are just mere allegations and that a person in a position of trust should not be punished."
DiMartino said some of the letters were written before Panici pleaded guilty.
The victim's mother said that after Panici was arrested, her daughter began receiving hate mail.
"I was confronted by other parents who said my daughter was a big, lying slut. She couldn't walk down the streets in Lowellville," the woman said. "I can't express all the hell we've been through because of [Panici]."
Panici apologized to the victim and her family and accepted responsibility for what happened.
"I can't say I'm sorry enough for what happened," he said, facing the sobbing victim and her family. "You are good people. You're better people than I am."
DiMartino said he was satisfied with the outcome, especially since Panici could have been sentenced to up to 71/2 years in prison.
"I think Judge Cronin was very fair under the circumstances of the case," he said, noting that she allowed Panici to leave the courtroom without being handcuffed, and to meet privately with his mother and grandmother before being taken to jail.
The victim, who has since graduated from another school, said she only wanted Panici to accept responsibility for what happened.
"I am not out to get Anthony Panici. I never was out to get him," she said.
bjackson@vindy.com