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Man gets probation in drug case
By Joe Gorman
YOUNGSTOWN
Anthony Williams stood before a judge in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court to be sentenced for something he said he did not remember doing and could not “push through my brain.”
Facing a possible four-year prison sentence on charges he collided with a Boardman police cruiser and rammed a township Burger King in March while he was in the throes of a drug overdose, Williams told Judge Maureen Sweeney he has been on drugs since he was at least 12, never received any help for his drug problem, and did not want to go to prison like his father – who was crying in the gallery – and most of his friends.
“I can’t believe I put myself in this situation. I still can’t remember what happened,” Williams said Wednesday. “I can’t believe what’s happening. I can’t push it through my brain.”
Judge Sweeney sentenced Williams, 21, of Como Street in Struthers, to five years’ probation, the most she can hand out. She also ordered him to complete drug treatment and obtain a General Educational Development diploma.
Williams has been in the county jail since his arrest in March and will remain in the jail until a spot in a drug-treatment program can be found for him.
He pleaded guilty to charges of assault, failure to comply, operating a vehicle impaired, and in a separate case, receiving stolen property.
Prosecutors had recommended four years in prison but would not oppose judicial release after nine months, the minimum he would have to serve before he could apply for early release.
Williams was arrested after township police were responding to a call of a man overdosing in a car on Hillman Way.
Reports said Williams backed up and into a police cruiser before ramming his car into the wall of a nearby Burger King. He was frothing at the mouth when paramedics arrived and revived him.
His lawyer, Lou DeFabio, asked for no prison sentence or a short sentence. He said his client already has been in jail for seven months, probably the longest amount of time he’s ever been sober.
DeFabio said a prison sentence would not cure the underlying cause for the crimes to which his client pleaded guilty. He said his client needed treatment for his addiction and that Williams knows that.
Williams told the judge he has struggled with his addiction for years and he does not even remember what led to his arrest. He said without the drugs, he would have never gotten in trouble.
Judge Sweeney asked him what was his drug of choice. “Heroin,” Williams said. “Cocaine. Anything I can get my hands on.”
Williams said he had a brief period of sobriety only to have his life thrown into turmoil by his drug use.
Judge Sweeney ordered regular drug testing as part of Williams’ probation. She warned him that any slip-ups and he will go to prison.