Pittsburgh man convicted of sexual imposition

Staff report

BOARDMAN

A man who served as pastor of a Youngstown church will avoid jail time after he was convicted of sexual imposition for an incident that took place in a restaurant restroom.

James Callozzo, 72, of Pittsburgh, withdrew a plea of not guilty and pleaded no contest to the third-degree misdemeanor charge in Mahoning County Area Court here Tuesday.

A judge sentenced Callozzo to a 60-day jail sentence, with 60 days suspended. The judge placed Callozzo on a one-year probation and ordered him to pay a $150 fine, plus $70 in court costs.

The judge prohibited Callozzo from verbal or physical contact with the 18-year-old male victim.

The charge stems from a May 15 incident at Perkins Restaurant and Bakery, 804 Boardman-Poland Road. There, Callozzo asked him questions about his genitals and forcefully grabbed his genitals, according to a report filed May 30 with the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office.

The victim told law-enforcement officials Callozzo followed him into the restroom and then repeatedly asked to see “down there.” Callozzo then reportedly grabbed the teen’s genital area, not letting go until the victim forced Callozzo off him.

Callozzo’s listed employer at the time of the report was Nativity of Christ Orthodox Church on Miller Road in Youngstown, where he was known as the Right Rev. Archim Andoni.

Information about his current employment status was not immediately available.

Information about Callozzo previously was available on the church’s website. That information appears to have since been removed.