Man gets two years for attack on girlfriend’s dad
By Joe Gorman
YOUNGSTOWN
Judge Shirley J. Christian said she had a lot of concerns as she sentenced a West Side man in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court to two years in prison for an attack on his girlfriend’s father in January.
The first was the fact that even though the state had to dismiss a charge of domestic violence against Sam Daviduk, 20, of North Belle Vista Avenue, in the same incident because his girlfriend would not cooperate or return calls from prosecutors, she came to the sentencing hearing with her two small children. Daviduk is their father.
Judge Christian also said Tuesday she is concerned because Daviduk received mixed martial arts training, and his lawyer said he was looking to go professional before the attack. She said she is concerned that if Daviduk ever loses his temper again and attacks someone, he would use the training, which the judge said most normal people do not know.
Daviduk said he does not want to ever be in trouble again.
“I learned my lesson on what’s going to happen to me,” Daviduk said. “I don’t want to go to prison. I have two beautiful children counting on me.”
Daviduk was sentenced on a charge of felonious assault for the attack on his girlfriend’s father, who came to his daughter’s aid when she called him at work while she was arguing with Daviduk.
The sentence is agreed upon by defense attorneys and prosecutors, with prosecutors agreeing not to oppose a request for early release if Daviduk behaves himself in prison.
The father said he had to get more than 30 stitches after the attack by Daviduk. He said he might be dead if his daughter did not help him. The father said he hoped the prison time would keep Daviduk from ever putting his hands on his daughter again.
“He needs to learn he cannot hit my daughter,” the victim said. He shrugged aside his own injuries, saying what matters is his daughter’s safety.
“If this solves the problem, then it’s worth it,” he said.
As one of Daviduk’s children could be heard outside the courtroom – the other child is only a month old – Judge Christian also said she did not believe Daviduk was remorseful because he skipped two court dates in the case, including a trial date. The judge said a person who is remorseful and takes responsibility does not skip court dates, which simply postpones the inevitable.
Daviduk’s lawyer, Paul Conn, said his client received the MMA training after being beaten by a group of men who jumped him when he was 17. Conn said Daviduk lived in a rough neighborhood and wanted a way to defend himself.
“Had this not happened, he was hoping to go pro,” Conn said.