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Woman gets probation in Christmas morning shooting
By Joe Gorman
YOUNGSTOWN
Judge R. Scott Krichbaum lamented the fact Wednesday that people don’t fight anymore.
Instead, the judge said as he sentenced 18-year-old Jalisha Wylie of Girard to probation for her role in a Christmas morning shooting, people show up to fight and end up shooting each other.
“I can’t believe these things happen,” said Judge Krichbaum in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court. “Thank God these people can’t shoot.”
Wylie, who is five months pregnant, pleaded guilty to a third-degree felony charge of obstructing justice. She was the driver of a car her boyfriend, Andrew Stigal, was in as he fired several shots from the sunroof while being chased by another car about 1 a.m. Dec. 25 at East Avondale and Gibson avenues.
At the time, Wylie had her then 8-month-old child in the car and an 18-month-old child was in the other car. No one was injured.
Judge Krichbaum said that was also something different for him.
“I’ve taken my son to football and baseball games, and even golf, but never a shooting,” Judge Krichbaum said.
Stigal was sentenced earlier this year to five years in prison. A 13-year-old boy also was arrested in Wylie’s car and his case was handled in juvenile court. Police found loaded .40-caliber and 9mm seimautomatic pistols in Wylie’s car, reports said.
When Stigal and Wylie were arraigned in municipal court Dec. 30, Magistrate Anthony Sertick said the description of events “sounds like a Hollywood movie.”
Judge Krichbaum said he was troubled that prosecutors and defense attorneys were recommending only probation for Wylie. Assistant Prosecutor Stephen Maszcak said the offer was made because without Wylie’s cooperation, the case against Stigall could not proceed, although he did admit when questioned by Judge Krichbaum that Wylie had to give a second statement to investigators before her deal was finalized because she was not completely truthful in her first statement.
“She appeared to recall some additional facts the next day,” Masczak said.
Holly Hanni, Wylie’s attorney, told the judge a woman in the other car had been dating Stigal’s brother and challenged Wylie to a fight. Hanni said the two had been exchanging text messages and Facebook posts since noon Christmas Eve. She also said that Wylie’s car was shot at as well.
“There was a lot of high-school-type bullying,” Hanni said.
Wylie said she was sorry and realized she had a made a horrible mistake and also made several bad choices.
As part of her probation, Wylie must attend counseling at Community Corrections Association and stay out of trouble. If she violates the terms of her probation, she could be sentenced to prison for three years.