Man released in branding case has probation hearing

YOUNGSTOWN

A man who pleaded guilty for his role in the branding of a Struthers teen who was released from prison early on judicial release stipulated in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court he violated the terms of his release.

Andrew Kocak Jr., 34, of Buchanan Drive, will now have a probation-violation hearing before Judge Lou D’Apolito at a later date because he admitted Monday there is evidence he violated his probation.

Kocak was released from prison July 24. He had received a three-year prison sentence for his role in the branding.

He was sentenced in November on felony charges of endangering children, corrupting another with drugs, felonious assault and two counts of intimidation of a crime victim or witness in the branding case.

Three other people were convicted in that case, in which a 17-year-old victim suffered third-degree burns and had to have skin-graft surgery after the group used the lid of a snuff can and martial-arts darts to brand him.

After he was released from prison, he picked up new charges of menacing by stalking, retaliation, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, domestic violence and telephone harassment.

Read MORE in Tuesday's Vindicator.