Mahoning County opens its veterans court

YOUNGSTOWN — The Mahoning County Common Pleas Veterans’ Court made its debut in a celebration this afternoon.

The event marked the initial certification of the felony-level specialty court by the Ohio Supreme Court.

Judge Shirley J. Christian is presiding over the new court, and her successor, Judge-elect Anthony D’Apolito, who takes office Jan. 1, said he will continue it.

The court, one of 21 veterans’ courts in Ohio, will serve military veterans charged with low-level, nonviolent crimes.

Participating veterans will plead guilty to the charges they face; and those charges can be dismissed if they complete a closely-monitored, court-ordered treatment program.

A veteran will be assigned as a mentor to each participant.

Judge Robert Milich operates a similar misdemeanor veterans’ court in Youngstown Municipal Court.

For the complete story, read Wednesday's Vindicator and Vindy.com