Man gets two years for missed court dates

‘Be here when I tell you,’ a judge tells the defendant.

staff report

YOUNGSTOWN — A Boardman man who pleaded guilty to cocaine possession and Oxycontin trafficking, and failed to appear on three court dates, has been sentenced to two years in prison.

Citing Raymond E. Brown II’s prior burglary, carrying a concealed weapon and drug possession convictions, Judge R. Scott Krichbaum imposed the sentence Tuesday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.

The judge had issued bench warrants for the arrest of Brown, 27, of Cook Avenue, who failed to appear for an April 8 pre-trial hearing, an April 14 jury trial date and for sentencing last Friday.

Brown was tardy on April 8, and he was lodged in Trumbull County jail on an unrelated matter on April 14, his lawyer, James Vivo, told the judge.

Judge Krichbaum said Brown disrespected the court by not appearing April 8 and last Friday. “You better, by God, be here when I tell you to be here,” Judge Krichbaum told Brown.

Brown was arrested Monday after failing to appear for Friday’s sentencing, said Robert Duffrin, assistant county prosecutor, who advocated a one-year prison term for Brown.

Brown was free on a personal recognizance bond when he entered his guilty pleas on May 2. Judge Krichbaum said he approved the recognizance bond because police said Brown had been cooperating with authorities in an investigation.

On May 5, Boardman police arrested Brown on a new drug paraphernalia possession charge, which is pending, the judge noted.