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Man gets six months after no contest plea
By Joe Gorman
YOUNGSTOWN
A man sentenced to six months in jail after pleading no contest to charges of obstruction of justice and driving under suspension was termed a “menace” by Municipal Judge Elizabeth Kobly.
Judge Kobly said 29-year-old Anthony Jackson is a menace because his driving record is deplorable, including four open suspensions on his license and three charges of operating a vehicle impaired.
She said Wednesday that Jackson needs to be jailed for a significant period of time because he still gets behind the wheel of a car and drives — even though he does not have a license and is prohibited from doing so.
“Shame on you,” Judge Kobly said after accepting Jackson’s no-contest plea and finding him guilty. “The revolving door of your driving is coming to a screeching halt right now.”
Jackson apologized and said he knew he was at fault and that he has changed, but Judge Kobly said she did not believe him because of his past actions of continuing to drive after losing his license.
“I’m sorry, and I have changed,” Jackson said.
“You haven’t,” Judge Kobly replied. “Your record speaks volumes. Your actions speak volumes.”
Jackson was cited just before 3 a.m. Aug. 25 after he was seen driving the wrong way down a one-way street on Hazel Street downtown. Reports said he did not have identification and told officers he had no license and would not tell them his last name. He also told police he did not know his Social Security number, reports said.
Police managed to identify Jackson and found his driving record while running a records check, reports said.
Judge Kobly asked Jackson why he lied to the police, and Jackson said it was a misunderstanding, but Judge Kobly said she did not believe him. She told Jackson that he needed to go to jail to keep other drivers on the road safe.
“You have graduated to a whole new level, and it’s going to stop,” Judge Kobly said.
Mahoning County Court records show DUI arrests for Jackson in 2005 and 2012.