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Woman's drug story shocks judge
By Joe Gorman
YOUNGSTOWN
Judge Elizabeth Kobly was confronted with the shocking consequences of drug use Monday by a woman who has battled drugs for years.
Heather Maravola, who was before the judge on several charges, told her she was drug-free for four years and then began using drugs again about two months ago.
The judge said she could not understand why someone would get involved with something as dangerous as heroin.
“I don’t know why people think they can use heroin and get away with it,” Judge Kobly said.
Maravola, 28, then told the judge she had a sister, 26, who died of heroin.
The judge was visibly shocked.
“Geez,” Judge Kobly said. “Are you trying to kill yourself?”
Maravola then began crying.
Maravola was before the judge for a preliminary hearing on a third-degree felony charge of illegal conveyance of a prohibited substance into a detention facility and misdemeanor drug paraphernalia charges. The paraphernalia charges came from separate incidents June 30 and Sept. 4 for having a crack pipe and a needle. The illegal conveyance charge was from an arrest Sept. 8.
Maravola waived her hearing on the felony and pleaded no contest to the misdemeanors and was found guilty. She was sentenced to 30 days in jail.
Because she waived the hearing for her felony case, that will be heard by a Mahoning County grand jury.
Maravola told the judge she had been going to treatment and had been sober for four years before relapsing “off and on” beginning two months ago.
She didn’t give a reason for why she started using drugs again.