Man gets max sentence after violating probation by running from cops

By Joe Gorman | January 30, 2016 at 12:00a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

Driving with a suspended license and then failing to pull over for police when they spot you while you’re on probation is never a good thing.

And the situation gets worse when you’re on probation to Judge Elizabeth Kobly of Youngstown Municipal Court.

William Navarro, 38, found that out the hard way Friday as he was sentenced to a maximum 30 days in Mahoning County jail on a charge of possession of a drug-abuse instrument for which he originally received probation.

The judge also sentenced him to a maximum 90 days in jail on a charge of failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer for leading police on a chase Oct. 6.

Assistant City Prosecutor Shelli Freeze said officer Kenneth Garling tried to pull over a car Navarro was driving at East Lucius and South avenues on the South Side for running a stop sign. Instead, the car did not stop until it reached a home in the 700 block of East Philadelphia Avenue, where Navarro was taken into custody.

Navarro’s attorney, John Ams, told the judge his client exercised poor judgment and should have stopped, but Ams said the car his client was driving belonged to Navarro’s mother. He wanted to return the car so it would not be towed.

“Was it the smart thing to do? Absolutely not,” Ams said.

Judge Kobly said people who run from police put others around them in danger who are simply minding their own business. That makes Navarro dangerous, she said.

“I’m not going to have you kill somebody because you are running away,” Judge Kobly said.

Navarro apologized, but the judge said that would not change her mind from imposing maximum sentences on both of his charges.

“Shame on me for giving you a break the first time,” Judge Kobly said.