Struthers man gets 3 years for break-ins

By Peter H. Milliken

YOUNGSTOWN — A 28-year-old Struthers man is going to prison for three years for a series of break-ins at a Struthers tavern and at churches in Struthers and Austintown late last year.

Robert D. Johnson, of 10th Street, drew the sentence Thursday from Judge James C. Evans of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court, who followed the prosecution’s sentencing recommendation.

Johnson pleaded guilty last month to four counts of breaking and entering, two counts of burglary and one count each of theft and safe-cracking.

The burglaries were Oct. 13 and Nov. 4 at The Bowery, a tavern at 2729 E. Midlothian Blvd.

The charges of breaking and entering pertain to unauthorized entries into Struthers Baptist Church, 305 Elm St., and Christ Lutheran Church, 250 Sexton St., also in Struthers, both in late October; Lynkirk Church of Christ, 4199 Kirk Road, on Nov. 3, and Highway Tabernacle, 3000 S. Raccoon Road, on Nov. 3 or 4, both in Austintown.

The theft charge pertains to a projector taken from Christ Lutheran; and the safe-cracking charge pertains to the Highway Tabernacle break-in.

Saying Johnson has a significant drug-abuse problem and wasn’t the principal offender, Johnson’s lawyer, John Jeffrey Limbian, unsuccessfully urged the judge to impose probation and enroll Johnson in a rehabilitation program.

Johnson, who apologized for his actions, said he believes all the stolen property has been returned to its rightful owners.

Nevertheless, the judge ordered Johnson to make restitution for any losses the victims may have incurred.

Johnson will get credit for the 220 days he already has been jailed.

Items taken in the break-ins included TVs, a computer and an LCD computer monitor.

Liquor bottles were taken from the tavern. Nobody was on any of the premises when they were broken into.

Church and tavern representatives were not present in court for the sentencing.

A co-defendant, Christopher J. Soroka, 30, of Youngstown-Hubbard Road, Hubbard, pleaded guilty Wednesday to five counts of breaking and entering, two counts of burglary and one count each of forgery and safe-cracking, which pertain to these and other incidents.

Mark Hockensmith, assistant county prosecutor, said he believes Soroka was the principal offender. Judge Evans will sentence Soroka at 10 a.m. July 30.