Michael Pavlik to spend 60 days in jail

By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.

jgoodwin@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

A county judge handed down some strong criticism against men who come before the court accused of beating women.

The comments of Judge R. Scott Krichbaum came Thursday during a hearing for Michael Pavlik Jr., brother of boxing champion Kelly Pavlik.

Pavlik, 33, was in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court for sentencing on a misdemeanor charge of domestic violence. He initially had been charged with felony domestic violence, but the charge was reduced to a misdemeanor in a plea agreement with the prosecutor.

According to a police report, Pavlik and a 33-year-old woman became involved in a physical altercation at a Cornell Street home on the South Side one night last November. The woman told police Pavlik punched her in the eye, threw her into a coffee table and dragged her across the floor.

The woman said the fight continued the next day with more physical confrontation.

Judge Krichbaum sentenced Pavlik to 60 days in jail, three years’ probation and ordered that he have no contact with the woman. The sentence came with comments from the judge, who called Pavlik’s actions outrageous and inexcusable.

“I am decidedly of the opinion that guys cannot hit women,” Judge Krichbaum said. “That may be unpopular today, when everyone is equal, and it doesn’t make a difference if you hit a guy or girl. But it does matter; it does make a difference.”

Atty. Ben Joltin, representing Pavlik, asked the court to sentence his client to probation. A pre-sentence investigation also suggested probation, but Judge Krichbaum imposed the 60-day sentence, saying the circumstances of the matter cannot be taken lightly.

“I am regretful for this situation, not only for my family but for her family as well,” Pavlik said before sentencing. “She is my best friend and always will be. ... I am very sorry for this.”

Gabriel Wildman, an assistant county prosecutor, told the court the charges against Pavlik were amended from a felony to a misdemeanor because the woman asked that Pavlik be ordered to get help and not receive jail time.

Wildman also said one element of the felony charge was the woman’s possible pregnancy at the time, but she later said she miscarried the child before the altercation.

Judge Krichbaum said there are too many crimes indicted as felonies that are later reduced to misdemeanors.

He said the prosecutor’s office must make a better effort of screening and issuing proper indictments.