Man receives 7-year sentence for raping teen

staff report

YOUNGSTOWN — A city man has been sentenced to seven years in prison on each of two counts of raping a 16-year-old girl, to be served concurrently.

Judge James C. Evans of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court imposed the prison time Thursday on Preston Cunningham, 34, for whom addresses on Williamson and East Chalmers avenues and Erie Street were listed.

The prosecution dropped a third rape count in the plea agreement, and Cunningham pleaded guilty to the other two. All three counts were alleged to have occurred at the victim’s city residence Nov. 26, 2005.

After he leaves prison, Cunningham will be on parole for five years and must register his address with the county sheriff quarterly for the rest of his life.

Delays in concluding the case stemmed from postponements requested by the defense and from Cunningham’s failure to show up in court, said Dawn Cantalamessa, assistant county prosecutor.

Court records show bench warrants were issued on two occasions for Cunningham’s arrest after his failure to appear in court before the judge revoked his bond and ordered him jailed until further notice.

Records show three postponements initiated by the defense, one by the prosecution and one by the judge.