Men sentenced in burglary case

One more burglary defendant gets sentenced today.

STAFF REPORT

YOUNGSTOWN — A man who pleaded guilty to a Canfield home burglary and a New Middletown restaurant break-in has been sentenced to three years in prison.

John Douglas, 35, of Youngstown, drew the sentence Thursday from Judge R. Scott Krichbaum of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.

Douglas had earlier pleaded guilty to breaking and entering and theft of more than $500 New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day at the DeChellis Restaurant in New Middletown, burglary of Darlene DeChellis’ Bradford Drive home in Canfield on Jan. 30 and possessing criminal tools, namely a cellular phone, in the home burglary.

Judge Krichbaum sent Douglas’ co-defendant, Richard Cummings, 35, of Lynn Avenue, to prison for 18 months. Cummings had pleaded guilty to the restaurant break-in and to a reduced burglary charge in the home break-in, with the charge of possessing criminal tools dropped.

Another defendant, Joanne Douglas, 39, of Youngstown, who pleaded guilty to the home burglary, was to be sentenced by Judge Krichbaum at 8:30 a.m. today. The prosecution is recommending probation for Joanne Douglas, who is John Douglas’ sister-in-law.

Police said DeChellis came home unexpectedly Jan. 30, surprised John Douglas inside and chased him to his getaway car, in which Cummings waited behind the wheel.

Joanne Douglas, who was DeChellis’ cleaning woman and knew DeChellis’ routines, helped Cummings and John Douglas plan the burglary, police said.