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Man gets 2 years in plea deal
YOUNGSTOWN
A city man will spend time in prison for threatening the mother of his child and others with a firearm during an argument earlier this year.
Gregory Croom, 24, of Applecrest Court, Boardman, appeared for sentencing Friday morning before Judge R. Scott Krichbaum of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court. He previously had pleaded guilty to robbery and illegal possession of a firearm.
Croom initially was charged with illegal possession of a weapon, robbery and aggravated robbery, but the aggravated-robbery charge was dropped under the plea agreement.
J. Michael Thompson, an assistant county prosecutor, and Atty. James Gentile, representing Croom, agreed upon a two-year sentence in exchange for the plea agreement.
Judge Krichbaum sentenced Croom to two years on each of the two charges. He will serve the sentences concurrently as well as be placed on three years’ probation upon his release. Croom will be given credit for the 146 days he has spent in the county jail.
Prosecutors said Croom and his girlfriend were involved in an argument in January. The pair separated, but Croom followed the woman to a relative’s home.
According to prosecutors, Croom rummaged through a diaper bag that already was at the relative’s home and removed a handgun, threatening everyone in the home.
Croom reportedly then took his girlfriend’s wallet, food-stamp card and the gun with him when he left the home.
Thompson said prosecutors agreed to enter into the plea agreement because the girlfriend recanted statements made to police after Croom’s arrest and likely would not testify to the course of events the state believes took place at the home.
“She [the victim] recanted her whole statement; however, we do believe Mr. Croom threatened everyone in the house while holding a gun,” Thompson told the court before sentencing.
Gentile asked the court to accept the recommended sentence in light of the recanted statement of the victim. He also pointed out that the victim is the mother of Croom’s child, and the relationship has been volatile.
“We do accept responsibility for the conduct and are prepared to accept the court’s sentence,” he said. “Mr. Croom has a minimal criminal record, and most of his problems have involved this victim. It would be advisable that he find a new girlfriend.”
Croom told the court he accepted responsibility for the situation and is looking to put the matter behind him.
“I hurt not only the victim but my child as well,” he said.