Crea pleads not guilty by reason of insanity

YOUNGSTOWN A mayoral candidate who is in the Mahoning County jail entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity earlier this week in Municipal Court.

John Crea, 46, had the plea entered for him by his lawyer Tuesday. He had previously served 21 days in the jail after he was charged with threatening a security guard at City Hall with his dog in August.

He was arrested Oct. 2 on a probation violation for threatening residents at the apartment complex where he used to live.

A competency evaluation has been ordered for Crea and he has a 9 a.m. hearing before Judge Robert Milich.