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Man who stole to get heroin sentenced to 15 years
By Joe Gorman
YOUNGSTOWN
Ralph Goad said contrary to popular opinion, heroin addicts have no choice.
Just before he was sentenced Wednesday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court to 15 years in prison for a string of burglaries last year to help fund his $400- a-day heroin habit, Goad, 54, of Cleveland, told visiting Judge H.F. Inderleid Jr. that his 35-year addiction to drugs left him no choice but to use and to steal to support his habit.
“I can’t even stick a needle in my arm because I’ve stuck myself so many times,” Goad said.
Goad was sentenced on six counts of breaking and entering, six counts of burglary and a single count of attempted burglary for a series of break-ins from March to May 2013 in Beaver, Boardman, Austintown, Goshen and Green. He was arrested last June by an Austintown police officer who saw Goad trying to break into a Raccoon Road bar.
At the time of his arrest, investigators with the Mahoning County Sheriff office said he has been imprisoned several times on burglary charges, and his heroin habit was up to $400 a day. Assistant Prosecutor Michael Yacovone asked Judge Inderleid for a 15-year sentence because of 14 prior felony convictions against Goad and the harm he did to his victims.
Mike and Deborah Salinsky, who had their home broken into, spoke to the judge and said their lives have been turned upside down since their home was broken into by Goad.
“We were violated in our house – our safe place,” Mike Salinsky said. “We’re scared to enter our house.”
Deborah Placer, whose home also was broken into, said she has no sympathy for Goad because he has been convicted of the same offense over and over and still keeps doing it.
“I don’t see any redemption,” Placer said. “Somebody who’s a repeat offender at this age, I don’t see any changes.”
Goad’s attorney, Michael Gollings, asked for a five-to-seven-year sentence, saying his client never used a weapon, always broke into a place where no one was at, and that he took responsibility for his crimes when he was caught.
Goad apologized and also said he had no excuses except his drug addiction.
“I don’t even remember why I started,” Goad said.
Goad said he has never gotten any kind of treatment but tried to quit cold turkey. Goad said whatever sentence he received, he hoped that drug treatment would be part of it.
Judge Inderleid said he understands that Goad was fueled by an addiction, but he added it his duty to protect the public from crimes like the ones Goad admitted to committing.