Allen Tapscott sentenced to 28 years in prison for 2010 home invasion

YOUNGSTOWN — A tearful courtroom statement from a Youngstown couple about the loss of their unborn child preceded a 28-year prison sentence for 43-year-old Allen Tapscott.

Tapscott, of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, had been on trial last week in the courtroom of Judge R. Scott Krichbaum of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court. He was found guilty of two counts of aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary and being a convicted felon in illegal possession of a firearm.

Tapscott came onto the Youngstown Metropolitan Housing Association property on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard on Nov. 2 and into the apartment of Alanda James, who was in a high-risk pregnancy at the time, through an unlocked door and pointed a gun at James and her boyfriend Anthony Ranalli, demanding cash and valuables.

Ranalli said he is happy to see the man headed to prison.

“He got what he deserved. He should have gotten more time. I lost my son. He pointed a gun at my pregnant girlfriend; that is no type of human being,” he said.

For the complete story, read Tuesday's Vindicator and Vindy.com