Austintown mother, son OK plea deal

The prosecutor recommended dropping charges against the father.
YOUNGSTOWN -- A mother and son from Austintown whom who a Mahoning County grand jury indicted on charges of for trafficking and growing marijuana in their home pleaded guilty to lesser charges as part of a plea bargain.
Michael J. Sherick, 22, and Lisa J. Sherick, 47, both of Signature Drive, appeared Tuesday before Judge Maureen A. Sweeney of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court and withdrew the innocent pleas they made when they were arraigned last June.
Judge Sweeney accepted the county prosecutor's recommendation to drop the cultivating marijuana charge and two counts of trafficking in marijuana against Michael Sherick. He then pleaded guilty to two remaining counts of trafficking -- one a third-degree felony, the other a fifth-degree felony.
One count of trafficking in marijuana against Lisa Sherick was dropped, and a count of cultivating marijuana was amended to permitting drug abuse, to which she pleaded guilty.
Forfeitures
Forfeiture specifications could have led to the Shericks' losing their home, but Assistant County Prosecutor Robert Duffrin said the plea bargain calls for them to forfeit $15,000 instead. They also will return a number of firearms that belong to a relative who was not charged in this matter, Duffrin said.
Michael and Lisa Sherick will be sentenced later. Both are subject to prison time and fines.
Judge Sweeney continued a hearing for Joseph T. Sherick, Michael Sherick's father, who also was charged with trafficking in marijuana.
The prosecution recommended that Judge Sweeney dismiss charges against Joseph Sherick, Duffrin said. The judge will act on that recommendation after Michael and Lisa Sherick have been sentenced.