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Man sentenced to 18 months for dealing drugs
By Joe Gorman
YOUNGSTOWN
A man who told a Mahoning County Common Pleas Court judge Monday he was dealing drugs to support his own drug habit was given a prison sentence of 18 months.
Judge Shirley Christian told Deandre Underwood, 24, that though she believes he is trying to turn his life around after evidence was presented showing he had completed a drug-treatment program and had two jobs, she thought the sentence is appropriate because of the selling of drugs to which Underwood admitted.
“Not only were you using, but you were dealing, and that is a big problem that I see every day,” Judge Christian said.
Underwood had pleaded guilty earlier this year to three counts of trafficking in cocaine, a fifth-degree felony; and a single count of complicity to engage in a pattern of corrupt activity, a third-degree felony.
The sentence was agreed upon by defense attorney Mark Hanni and Assistant Prosecutor Martin Desmond.
Underwood was indicted along with nine other people in June, including his father and brother, on charges of selling heroin, cocaine and marijuana in the Lincoln Knolls area of the East Side.
Hanni said since the indictment, his client has moved to Columbus, where he has worked two jobs and successfully completed drug rehabilitation.
Desmond said Underwood was on probation for another trafficking offense when he was indicted and arrested, but this is his first trip to prison.
Underwood apologized to the judge, saying his own drug problem was what got him involved in the drug ring in the first place.
“I just want a second chance, basically, to try and do right,” Underwood said.
Judge Christian told Underwood to continue his rehabilitation and education work in prison, and if he does, those factors will weigh in his favor if he applies for early release.