21/2 years added to prisoner’s sentence for vandalizing Mahoning County jail

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

A man accused of making a mess of the Mahoning County jail and creating an unsafe environment for deputies and other inmates has been sentenced to nearly three years in prison.

Anthony Williams, a federal prisoner being housed at the jail, had been on trial before a jury in the courtroom of Judge R. Scott Krichbaum of common pleas court on charges of felony vandalism and felony disrupting public services.

The jury deliberated for an hour and 45 minutes Wednesday before finding Williams guilty of the charges.

Judge Krichbaum sentenced Williams to one year in prison for the vandalism and 11/2 years in prison for disrupting public services, for a total of 21/2 years.

J. Michael Thompson, an assistant county prosecutor, said Williams broke the nozzle off a part of the sprinkler system in the jail. The broken nozzle, he said, made it impossible to get water to 72 inmates as well as deputies in the event of an emergency.

“I certainly hope this verdict sends a message to other inmates at the justice center,” Thompson said about the consequences of committing vandalism at the lockup.