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Judge's son pleads guilty in two cases
By Joe Gorman
YOUNGSTOWN
John Dellick Sr. said Monday after his son, John Dellick Jr., entered guilty pleas in two separate criminal cases that he wishes he could switch places with him.
John Dellick Jr., 20, of Canfield, entered guilty pleas in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court to a felony count of aggravated assault and a misdemeanor count of assault for two separate cases.
He also is the son of Judge Theresa Dellick of Mahoning County Juvenile Court.
The elder Dellick said his son has struggled with a range of mental, physical and emotional issues, and part of his symptoms were undiagnosed. If that issue had been addressed properly, the elder Dellick said after the plea hearing was over, none of the incidents would have happened.
The elder Dellick said his son has been undergoing intensive treatment since a series of incidents were reported in October of 2013, and it was hard watching his son suffer.
“I would do whatever I could to take his place,” the elder Dellick said.
The aggravated-assault charge, a fourth-degree felony, is for an October 2013 road-rage incident in Canfield while the misdemeanor assault charge stems from a July 2013, incident in Canfield involving a friend at a Canfield plaza.
Seven other counts were dismissed as part of a plea deal with prosecutors from the state attorney general’s office. Visiting Judge Michael Nunner is hearing the case, and he set a sentencing date for noon Feb. 9.
In the October 2013 altercation, Dellick is accused of ramming a man’s car, throwing a bottle at the man and his wife and yelling racial slurs at them in a road-rage incident in Canfield.
In the July 2013 incident, Dellick is accused of picking up his friend, carrying her to his Jeep and throwing her head-first into the vehicle at a Canfield plaza where they had agreed to meet.
The cases were indicted together but were severed into two separate cases for trial. The plea agreement takes care of both cases.
Prosecutors did not make a sentencing recommendation to the judge, and declined to make further comment to a reporter.
Dellick can receive probation or a jail or prison sentence ranging from six to 18 months. Prison is not mandatory.
A presentence investigation will be conducted.
Dellick Sr. said the ordeal has been hard on their family, but he said he and his son understand that legally his condition is not an excuse for his conduct and that his son has taken responsibility. He said the goal is to continue his son’s treatment.
“We just want to get this behind us and get him back in shape,” the elder Dellick said.