Man sentenced to six months for vehicular homicide

YOUNGSTOWN — As a judge of the Mahoning County Common Pleas Court, Lou D’Apolito is used to wielding unaccustomed authority in his courtroom, as all judges are.

People cannot stand or speak or sometimes even leave a courtroom without a judge’s permission. But today, Judge D’Apolito said all that power was for naught as he sentenced a 21-year-old man to six months in jail for killing 18-year-old Derek Martin in a November 2011 crash.

Judge D’Apolito said he could not bring peace to Nathan Skaggs, who pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide and assault for the death of Martin; or to Martin’s father, who said a piece of his life and family was torn away forever. And, he could not bring Martin back.

For the complete story, read Wednesday's Vindicator and Vindy.com