43
Wanted fugitive is caught, sentenced to 6 years
Photo
Thomas E. Nickerson
YOUNGSTOWN
Thomas Nickerson once topped the U.S. Marshals Service in Northern Ohio’s list of most- wanted people, but now he is headed to prison for six years.
Nickerson, 23, of West Boston Avenue, had been charged in March with felonious assault, illegal possession of a weapon and aggravated robbery with firearm specifications. He pleaded guilty this week to the charges in an agreement with the Mahoning County Prosecutor’s Office.
Judge Lou A. D’Apolito of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court on Friday sentenced Nickerson to four years in prison on each of the three charges against him and a year in prison on each of two gun specifications.
The four-year sentences will run concurrently, but consecutive to the firearm specifications for a total of six years in prison.
Charges against Nickerson stem from parole violations of burglary and receiving stolen property, felonious assault, aggravated robbery and illegal possession of weapons.
The Mahoning Valley Violent Crimes Task Force arrested Nickerson in early March. He was a fugitive on the marshals’ most-wanted list.
Nickerson was spotted in a car by police, who followed him to an address on Boston Avenue.
The task force arrested him after a foot chase that led to the house in the 300 block of East Boston. He surrendered after being warned by task-force members that a police dog would be sent into the house to find him.
Nickerson has a lengthy criminal record. According to county records, Nickerson was convicted of carrying a concealed weapon in 2006. There was an arrest for possessing criminal tools in 2007 for which he was sentenced to 175 days in jail. He was convicted of receiving stolen property in 2008 for which he was sentenced to six months in prison.
Nickerson was convicted of receiving stolen property again in 2009 and served 18 months in prison. He also was arrested and convicted of burglary in 2010 for which he was sentenced to a 17-month prison term.