Crea gets probation

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

A former mayoral candidate was sentenced to five years’ probation in municipal court Monday on charges he threatened people last year.

John Crea, 47, was given five years’ intensive probation, and he has to report once a month.

The sentence was handed down by Judge Robert Milich.

Crea was sentenced on a charge of aggravated menacing as well as a probation violation for an earlier aggravated menacing charge.

Crea, who ran for mayor in 2013, was arrested in a Sept. 30, 2013, incident in which he was charged with threatening three people at an East Midlothian Boulevard apartment complex where he lived.

He already was on probation and ordered to undergo a mental-health evaluation after he spent 21 days in the Mahoning County jail after he was charged with threatening a guard at city hall Aug. 30, 2013. He spent the time in jail because he could not afford to post his bail after he was arraigned.

He never underwent that evaluation, so he was jailed the second time to make sure he had the evaluation. That was the probation violation he was sentenced for.

Crea pleaded no contest to the Sept, 30, 2013, incident and was found guilty. Two charges were dismissed in that case.

Crea has been undergoing extensive mental-health therapy since he was arrested the second time. Terms of his sentence also call for the probation department to approve any independent living arrangements Crea may make during the five years he is on probation.