Thursday, May 12, 2005
The defendant asked to be placed in a drug-treatment program. The judge said no.
YOUNGSTOWN -- A city man will spend the next two years in prison on forgery and theft charges.
Judge R. Scott Krichbaum of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court sentenced Terrance Chatman, 35, who listed addresses on Roxbury Avenue and Liberty Road, to the prison term Wednesday.
Chatman pleaded guilty in February to one charge of forgery and pleaded guilty in April to another forgery charge and two theft charges, said Patrick R. Pochiro, an assistant county prosecutor. The crimes occurred in 2004 and early this year.
Chatman's lawyer, David J. Gerchak, told the judge that his client had accepted responsibility for his acts and has worked to make restitution. He also said Chatman has a drug problem.
Chatman told the judge he's addicted to crack cocaine and asked that he be placed in an in-house drug treatment program instead of prison.
Wants to start over
He added he would like to "get things behind me and get back on track." He said his addiction had cost him a good job and his house, and almost ruined his marriage.
Judge Krichbaum, however, noted that Chatman already had served time in prison and had a juvenile record. Despite Chatman's claim of working toward restitution, a presentence report showed no restitution had been made.
"I can't feel mercy or sympathy for someone like you who commits others crimes to support your drug habit," the judge said. He added that one of the charges involved Chatman taking money from his church.
He sentenced Chatman to consecutive six-month terms on the two forgery charges and two theft charges and also ordered him to make restitution.