Sex offender gets 3 years in prison, lifetime registration

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

A West Side man has been sentenced to three years in prison after a jury convicted him of gross sexual imposition against an 11-year-old girl.

Judge John M. Durkin of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court imposed the sentence Monday on Willis Smith, 41, who has addresses on West Heights and Donald avenues.

The third-degree felony indictment says Smith fondled the child’s genitals Sept. 6, 2012.

The jury’s verdict came Friday after 21/2 days of deliberations at the end of a weeklong trial.

Citing Smith’s prior convictions for robbery, fleeing police and violating a protection order, Dawn Cantalamessa, an assistant county prosecutor, called for the maximum sentence, which would have been five years in prison.

Smith’s lawyer, John Juhasz, however, urged the judge to consider probation instead of prison because of Smith’s gainful employment as a roofer, his timely appearances for all court proceedings and the serious illness of Smith’s wife.

“I need to be there for my wife,” a tearful Smith said, asking the judge to sentence him only to probation.

Smith will be on probation for five years after he leaves prison and must register quarterly with the sheriff as a sex offender as long as he lives.

The victim told the judge the offense disrupted her sleep and caused her to have nightmares.

“I’m asking the court to show no mercy,” the victim’s grandmother told the judge, adding that her granddaughter attempted suicide after she was molested.