Woman is sentenced for driving car into tattoo parlor

Photo

Tabari Vandervort of Bristol

Staff report

WARREN

A Bristol Township woman has been sentenced to a three-day driver’s intervention class and a suspended 177-day jail sentence for driving her car into C&L Tattoo Studio, 4807 Mahoning Ave., Champion, on Feb. 24.

Tabari R. Vandervort, 33, of state Route 45, also was ordered Tuesday in Warren Municipal Court to pay restitution of $350 to the business and $450 in fines.

The sentencing came after she pleaded no contest to DUI on Tuesday. Judge Terry Ivanchak dismissed another misdemeanor charge, criminal damaging and endangering.

Court officials say the DUI charge relates to her taking a large quantity of pills and driving into the business on purpose. Vandervort was the only person injured. The business had extensive damage.

Vandervort pleaded guilty to felony vandalism May 6 in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court and is expected to be sentenced this month. She could get up to 18 months in jail on that charge.

Police said Vandervort drove her Grand Am from Marshall Avenue into the side entrance of the business at high speed, then collided with the side of a car parked in the front parking lot.

She then drove the car into the business, backed up and back into the business a second time. The car came to rest after hitting the front corner of the business, police said.

The business is a short distance north of State Road.