Boardman man gets prison term on attempted murder, assault, kidnapping charges

YOUNGSTOWN — A Boardman man is headed to prison for the next 16 years for trying to kill his wife and injuring their young child before threatening to leap from the Market Street bridge in 2012.

John F. Sylvester Jr., 37, of Jaguar Drive, appeared today for sentencing before Judge R. Scott Krichbaum of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court. He had previously pleaded guilty to attempted murder, felonious assault, kidnapping and endangering children.

Sylvester was charged with stabbing his wife several times and cutting her on her neck, shoulder and hands after an argument in his home in the presence of their son who tried to intervene in the assault. Sylvester was charged with kidnapping because he did not let the woman leave the home after the attack.

After attacking his wife, Sylvester fled to the downtown bridge, where he staged a four-hour standoff with police threatening to jump.

For the complete story, read Thursday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com