49 adults still wanted on juvenile charges

Some of the juvenile court fugitives are also wanted by adult courts.

By PATRICIA MEADE

VINDICATOR CRIME REPORTER

YOUNGSTOWN — Becoming an adult at 18 doesn’t mean cases you had pending at juvenile court disappeared with your childhood.

Warrants for 49 adults wanted by Mahoning County Juvenile Court are in the hands of city police working truancy and curfew details. Except for a 33-year-old woman charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor, the remaining 48 fugitives range in age from 18 to 20 and were juveniles when the alleged crimes were committed.

“We know some are hiding from us but others may not know they’re wanted,” said Detective Sgt. Mike Lambert. “The perception is once you turn 18 you’re done with juvenile court.”

Lambert said those on the list can call the court at (330) 740-2261 and arrange to turn themselves in. “Some will, some won’t surrender,” he said.

While making rounds this past week looking for juvenile court fugitives, Lambert spread the word that The Vindicator would be publishing a list of 50 names. He called Friday to say that one young man, who learned about the list, turned himself in that day to avoid having his name in the newspaper.

Lambert said most of the fugitives are from Youngstown but checks at their last known addresses proved futile. Many of the houses, he said, are now vacant.

Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the fugitives being sought is asked to call Lambert at (330) 233-7716.

Lambert is head of the gang unit attached to the Mahoning Valley Law Enforcement Task Force. His unit is participating in truancy and curfew details that Juvenile Judge Theresa Dellick has said are a collaborative effort between police, the schools, the court and county Children Services Board.

Crimes for the adults wanted by juvenile court include theft, receiving stolen property, drugs, burglary, assault, domestic violence, carrying a concealed weapon and rape. Several of the warrants list only “failure to appear” without naming the original charge.

Juvenile warrants are sent to the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Department for entry into a law enforcement computer. Lambert said many of the kids are picked up before the warrants are entered. He added that the warrants generally have a lower priority for entry than warrants for adults.

Records show a few of those being sought by juvenile court also have warrants issued by other courts for failure to appear.

Patrick M. Coleman, 18, of Youngstown, for example, has a traffic case pending in Mahoning County Area Court in Boardman since April 2007. The judge there issued a bench warrant for Coleman in May 2007.

Malcom Phillips of Sebring failed to show for a pretrial hearing in Sebring court in an underage possession of alcohol case, and a warrant was issued for the 18-year-old man Jan. 8.

Julian E. Ortiz, 19, of Youngstown is wanted by Boardman court in a resisting arrest case from December 2007.

Jonna L. Kimla, 18, of Boardman has a theft case pending in Austintown since November 2007. A warrant was issued for her by that court in December 2007.

A Boardman theft case from August 2005 for Keith A. White Jr., 20, of Struthers is still pending, as is a drug charge from April 2006. Bench warrants were issued when he failed to appear for pretrial hearings in both cases, records show.