Former superintendent Shoaf stays in prison

WARREN — Judge Andrew Logan of Trumbull County Common Pleas Court has denied early release from prison to Joseph M. Shoaf, the former Girard superintendent, who is serving a five-year term.

Shoaf, 41, formerly of Cortland, asked Judge Logan Jan. 12 to allow him to be released after serving four years of his sentence. He began serving the term Jan. 24, 2003, after being convicted of corrupting another with drugs, intimidation of a victim and cocaine possession.

The county prosecutor’s office opposed the release, saying his offenses such as the ones he committed against teenage students in the school system “can shake the very foundations of our society.”

A tape-recorded conversation from 2002 indicated he and a female student were doing cocaine in his office at Girard High School and Shoaf demanded that the girl drink more alcohol or he would suspend her.

Shoaf’s attorney, plus friends and relatives asked that Shoaf be released so he could assist his ailing 77-year-old father, work as   laborer for a concrete and waterproofing company in Wickliffe and provide financial support to his 5-year-old triplets.

Judge Logan denied the reques without a hearing Thursday, meaning that Shoaf is free to ask for early release again at any time.

If Judge Logan would have denied the request after a hearing, Shoaf would have been required to serve the last year of the sentence without further consideration.