MAHONING COUNTY After man gets life in prison for killing, prosecutors ignore probation violation

Prosecutors dropped a probation violation charge against Anderson.
By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR COURTHOUSE REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Prosecutors say life imprisonment is long enough for Christopher Anderson, so they won't pursue more prison time for him.
"It would just be a waste of everyone's time," said Timothy Franken, chief assistant Mahoning County prosecutor.
Anderson, 36, of South Main Street, Austintown, was sentenced to life in prison in December 2003 after being convicted in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court of killing 22-year-old Amber Zurcher.
Zurcher was strangled to death in her Compass West apartment in June 2002. Anderson was one of several people who'd attended a party at Zurcher's apartment that night. After everyone left, Anderson returned and strangled the victim with a cord.
Anderson's DNA was found under Zurcher's fingernails and on a bite wound on her left breast.
At the time of Zurcher's murder, Anderson was on probation for a previous conviction on charges of failure to obey a police order and two counts of negligent assault.
Hearings postponed
After Anderson was arrested for Zurcher's murder, prosecutors filed a motion seeking to revoke his probation and have him sentenced to prison. Several hearings on the motion have been scheduled, but all were postponed. Another was scheduled earlier this week.
Franken said that because Anderson already is serving a life sentence, prosecutors see no need to pursue the probation violation, which could add at least five years to Anderson's sentence.
"We're pleased to hear it," said defense attorney Ronald Yarwood.
Anderson is eligible to apply for parole after serving at least 15 years for the murder conviction.
Yarwood said Anderson still maintains his innocence in Zurcher's murder and is "vigorously appealing" his conviction and sentence.
bjackson@vindy.com