Warren auditor gets OK to learn ‘guideline sentence range’ for charge he faces

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

A federal judge has granted Warren Auditor Anthony J. Natale’s request to have federal probation officers investigate his background and the seriousness of the charge he’s accused of committing against a former employer in advance of a possible plea agreement.

Judge Benita Y. Pearson of U.S. federal court in Youngstown last month also approved Natale’s request to reset his trial date to give his lawyer more time to determine whether Natale will need a forensic expert to study the scientific information being used by prosecutors in his case.

The case is set for trial at 9 a.m. July 11. It had been scheduled for May 31.

Natale, who took office Jan. 1, was indicted March 30 on one count of conveying false information related to the use of a weapon of mass destruction.

He’s accused of sending an envelope containing white powder to his former employer, American Business Center, 7677 South Ave., Boardman, on Nov. 10, 2014, after being terminated from the job.

The powder fell out of the envelope onto an employee, causing panic the powder might be a toxin, such as anthrax, and leading to an evacuation.

According to the online docket in his case, Judge Pearson approved Natale’s request to have probation officials list any criminal history Natale may have and determine his “offense level and guideline sentencing range.”

Knowing roughly what sentence probation officials would recommend “would greatly aid [Natale] in determining whether he is able to resolve [his criminal charge] by way of a plea,” his attorney, J. Gerald Ingram, wrote in a motion filed with the court April 19.

The next pretrial hearing in the case is set for 2:30 p.m. June 16.