Clarett’s absence blamed on clerical error

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

A clerical error led to an arrest warrant for the brother of a former Ohio State football standout.

Michael Clarett Jr., the 30-year-old brother of Youngstown native and former Ohio State football standout Maurice Clarett, was due to appear before Judge R. Scott Krichbaum of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court for sentencing on multiple drug charges. Michael Clarett, in a plea agreement with prosecutors, previously had pleaded guilty to four counts of trafficking in heroin. One count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity was dropped.

Martin Desmond, an assistant county prosecutor, and Atty. J. Gerald Ingram, representing Clarett, reached an agreed-upon sentence of four years in prison on the charges. Clarett also agreed to forfeit a 2006 Lincoln car and several thousand dollars.

Judge Krichbaum is not bound by any sentencing recommendation, and Clarett could be sentenced to more than 15 years in prison.

Clarett was scheduled to appear before the court at 11 a.m. Monday for sentencing, but was not present for the hearing. Ingram informed the court that his office made a clerical error and told Clarett that the hearing was set for 1 p.m. Still, by noon Monday, the court handed down an arrest warrant for Clarett.

“The letter [sent to Clarett] clearly says 1 p.m.,” said Ingram. “The issuance of this warrant is arbitrary, unreasonable, capricious and unjust.”

Clarett did show up at the courthouse later in the day and was taken into custody by deputy sheriffs. The court revoked his bond and ordered that he be held in the Mahoning County jail without bond pending his sentencing or further order from the court.

No new date has been set for the sentencing.

The Mahoning County arrest is not Clarett’s first brush with the law concerning drug activity. He was arrested in early March after an investigation in Alliance.

Officers from the Alliance Police Department said officers from two law-enforcement agencies were conducting an investigation and witnessed a package delivered by U.S. mail to an Alliance address, then watched Clarett pick up the package.

Clarett was pulled over after picking up the package.

Officers found 13 pounds of suspected marijuana inside the car wrapped in one-pound bundles. Police also found $3,200 in cash inside the car.

Ingram said Clarett is on probation over that incident.

A check of the Mahoning County courts shows Clarett has faced charges in the past such as felonious assault and illegal possession of a weapon dating back to as early as 2001.