Man to pay $127 for newspaper box damage

YOUNGSTOWN -- James Wright, convicted of attempted theft of newspapers, must pay $127 restitution to The Vindicator and serve two years' probation.
Wright, 50, of West Dewey Avenue, was sentenced Thursday in municipal court. Trial was held Feb. 2.
Judge Robert P. Milich sentenced Wright to 90 days in jail, suspended 89 and gave him credit for one day served. The judge placed Wright on two years' probation and ordered that he attend a class at Community Corrections Association on Market Street.
Wright was charged in August 2003 with attempted theft of newspapers.
Allan Bowlby, director of circulation, said Wright damaged a newspaper box in an attempt to get it to open.
Bowlby said he's glad action was taken. He said every prosecution should show that people just can't go to the boxes and take newspapers without paying. He said the independent distributors lose money when that happens.