Man gets time served in 6 year old case

June 23, 2016 at 12:00a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

Judge Elizabeth Kobly said Charles Parisi is not the typical drug defendant she sees before her.

And neither was his case.

Parisi, 56, was in municipal court Wednesday for a scheduled trial for a pair of drug charges dating back to 2010.

The trial was averted, however, after Parisi pleaded no contest and was found guilty to charges of possession of drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Parisi told the judge he is now homeless but stays at the Rescue Mission and wants to enter its discipleship program. He said he wants to mentor other addicts.

“I want to get my life together to help people,” Parisi said.

Judge Kobly said Parisi is not the typical defendant she sees because of his age and the fact he is sober. She asked him why he started doing drugs, especially heroin, at an older age. Parisi said he been doing heroin for at least five years and probably longer.

“It’s time to straighten up,” Parisi said.

The charges against Parisi were filed in October 2010. His attorney, Walter Ritchie, said Parisi had served some time in jail and also had just “disappeared” because he was homeless for a time.

Court records show Parisi was sentenced to nine months in prison after being convicted in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court of a 2012 robbery. He was taken into custody May 26 on his current charge and managed to post bond.

Parisi was given credit for 48 days served on the charges in the jail and placed on one year’s probation. He could have received a sentence of nine months in the jail.