Latecomer gets probation on stolen property charge

Judge Krichbaum put her in jail for a night for not being in court on time.
By NANCY TULLIS
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- A city woman who spent the night in jail for being late for court will be on probation for two years for a misdemeanor charge.
Judge R. Scott Krichbaum of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court sentenced Tina M. Ludt, 38, of Erskine Avenue, to two years' probation Friday on a misdemeanor charge of receiving stolen property.
Originally charged with receiving stolen property, a fifth-degree felony, she pleaded guilty April 11 to the lesser charge. She was to appear with Atty. Brian Tareshawty, her lawyer, for sentencing in Judge Krichbaum's court at 9 a.m. Thursday.
Punctuality expected
Judge Krichbaum found her in contempt of court when she did not appear. On the judge's order, when she showed up an hour later, deputies handcuffed her and took her to Mahoning County Justice Center, where she spent the night.
"Mr. Tareshawty, how is it that I allow your client to be free on bond, and then she doesn't get to court on time?" Judge Krichbaum asked.
Tareshawty apologized for Ludt's late arrival the day before.
"She spent the night in jail thinking about it," Tareshawty said. "She didn't like it there. She won't be back in this court. If she ever is, she will be certain to be on time."
Judge Krichbaum told Tareshawty and Ludt that the court runs on the schedule it sets, not one based on the convenience of those ordered to appear.
"Everyone in this community should know they should appear in court on time, properly attired and ready to go," he said.
Tareshawty said Ludt was in the wrong place at the wrong time when she was charged in October 2005 with receiving stolen property. He said Ludt no longer associates with the two men she was with who had about 40 cartons of cigarettes in the trunk of their car. He said the cigarettes turned out to be stolen from a convenience store.
"So you mean they weren't retail salesmen," Judge Krichbaum said.
Done with drugs
Tareshawty said Ludt entered a recovery clinic in October 2005 and hasn't been using drugs.
Ludt apologized for being late for court. She said she had some health problems and slept in. She said she has been drug-free since November.
"This is the first time I've been in handcuffs when I was clean," she told the judge.
Judge Krichbaum commended her for her rehabilitation efforts, but noted it's his understanding that addiction to crack cocaine is lifelong. He said she would have to dedicate the rest of her life to rehabilitation.
He said with the misdemeanor charge the maximum sentence would be six months in the Justice Center, and he will impose that sentence if she violates the terms of her probation.
tullis@vindy.com