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Man gets four years for taking jewels in burglary
By Joe Gorman
YOUNGSTOWN
Mitchell Glay said he was living in the moment last year when he broke into a neighbor’s home and stole thousands of dollars in jewelry to pay for his heroin addiction.
He told Judge Lou D’Apolito of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court, who was sentencing him Wednesday to four years on a second-degree felony burglary charge, that it’s no way to live.
“All you think about is living for the moment, getting through the day,” Glay said, describing his thought process when asked by the judge how he could prey on a neighbor who just lost her fiance and take her jewelry and gifts. “And when it’s over, you think about it, and what’s done is done.”
Glay, 26, of South Schenley Avenue, pleaded guilty to the charge Feb. 4. He was arrested Sept. 25 for the burglary, which was in Boardman, and has been in the jail ever since.
Assistant Prosecutor Jennifer Paris told Judge D’Apolito that the victim was in court but did not want to speak. Paris said the woman who lives in the home had just lost her fiance, and the first day she went back to work after his death, her home was broken into. She said Glay knew about this, and that made it even worse.
“She felt victimized in that respect,” Paris said.
Paris said the jewelry taken were gifts from her fiance whenever he went on vacation, or from the victim’s mother. Paris asked that Glay be required to be pay $10,000 in restitution.
Lynn Maro, attorney for Glay, said her client has been struggling with a heroin addiction and that’s why he stole the items.
Glay has previous convictions for possession of drugs in 2011 and a 2012 conviction and sentence of probation for trafficking in heroin. Last May, he pleaded no contest to a possession of drug charge and a possession of marijuana charge.
He also had convictions in municipal court for obstructing official business and unauthorized removal in 2012.
Glay told Judge D’Apolito he was very sorry for the crimes he committed.
“I know I screwed up majorly,” he said.
Glay said during a previous stint in rehab, he was told to get rid of the people, places and things that led him to abuse heroin. He managed to get rid of things and places but not the people, which he said he realized is a huge mistake.
“It led me back to things I had gotten away from prior,” Glay said. “This monkey on my back has been a major burden to me for quite some time.”
Glay said he realized his actions impacted the entire community.
Judge D’Apolito said even if Glay can make restitution, the victim in the case probably will never be whole.
“I’m sure she will tell you there are items on that list that she does not have a dollar amount for,” Judge D’Apolito said.