Treatment court holds graduation

The graduates’ charges were dismissed.

YOUNGSTOWN — Three graduates of Youngstown Treatment Court chose the option of making healthy changes in their life, Judge Robert A. Douglas Jr. said.

The municipal judge held a graduation ceremony Wednesday afternoon in his courtroom for Marc Agnone, Mark Butler and Yulinda Weaver, all of Youngstown. With successful completion of mental health court, the charges against them were dismissed.

“I don’t think I could do what you did,” Joseph Sylvester, Turning Point Counseling Services executive director, told the graduates. “You’re very courageous.”

Turning Point, Mahoning County’s largest mental health agency, is part of the court treatment team. Two of its caseworkers, Al Nelis and Linda Blum, were among those who attended Wednesday’s ceremony.

Judge Douglas said the intensive treatment program requires participants to be in his court once every week until they’re deemed rehabilitated. He said it was such a joy to see Agnone, Butler and Weaver progress and offered kind words to each of them as he awarded certificates.

Agnone, 45, said the mental health program wasn’t easy — “a little rough at times” — but with the help of all those involved, he made it. His violating a protection order charge was dismissed.

Butler, 22, said he completed an anger management program at Turning Point a year ago, adding the mental health program then taught him how to change things in his life.

“Everybody kept me motivated,” Butler said. “I appreciate Judge Douglas being patient.”

His drug possession charge was dismissed.

Weaver, 49, said she learned a lot in the program and is glad to be through with it. “I hope to God we never have to meet under these circumstances again,” she joked, smiling at the applause that followed.

Weaver’s charges of domestic violence and criminal damaging were dismissed.

Judge Douglas started drug court about eight years ago and then added a second component, mental health court, three years ago.

Sylvester said mental health court has graduated eight individuals in the past three years, including the three on Wednesday, with only one of the graduates having a minor infraction after completion of the program. “That’s a successful program,” he said.