County Judge Sweeney sentences sex offender to 7 years in prison
YOUNGSTOWN
A city man has been sentenced to seven years in prison for sexual activity with an underage male family member.
Hubert Clardy III, 19, of Liberty Road, appeared Tuesday before Judge Maureen Sweeney of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court for sentencing after entering into a plea agreement with prosecutors where he pleaded guilty to one count of rape. He had been charged with 16 felony counts, including rape, unlawful sexual contact with a minor and several counts of gross sexual imposition.
Nicholas Brevetta, an assistant county prosecutor, and Atty. John Laczko, representing Clardy, reached an agreed-upon prison sentence of seven years.
Brevetta said Clardy had been engaged in some type of sexual activity with a male member of his family from January through December 2008.
The victim’s mother told the court and Clardy how her family has been ruined by Clardy’s actions.
“We accepted you. We loved you, we trusted you, and we let you into our home. My home has now become a hell hole because of the memories that are there,” she said. “You tore up the family. ... My son has a life sentence but by the grace of God, we are pulling up out of this.”
Clardy chose not to address the court before his sentencing, but Laczko reminded the judge his client had no prior criminal record and was employed full time and living out of state before the charges against him. He said Clardy has cooperated with the investigationw.
“We can now have closure for the mother and her son and Mr. Clardy and his family as well,” Laczko said.
Judge Sweeney gave Clardy credit for the 374 days he has spent in the county jail awaiting trial. He also will be placed on probation for five years upon his release from prison and must report as a sex offender the rest of his life.