Man gets 18 months for chase

By Joe Gorman

jgorman@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

A Gluck Street man who had people cheering for him earlier this year while he led Boardman police on a chase was sentenced to 18 months in prison in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.

The sentence given Monday to Jamal Wingo – he pleaded guilty in September to charges of fleeing and eluding, tampering with evidence and possession of cocaine, all felonies – will run concurrent with a two-year federal prison sentence he will serve on a probation violation stemming from the chase.

Judge Lou D’Apolito told Wingo that at 36, it is time he makes some changes in his life.

“At some point you’ve got to figure this out,” Judge D’Apolito said.

Boardman police tried to pull over a car Wingo was driving about 11:15 p.m. Aug. 2 on Market Street just north of Midlothian Boulevard after observing his vehicle had fictitious registration information and no rear-plate illumination.

The attempted traffic stop set off a chase into the South Side of Youngs-town down Judson, Firnley and Hylda avenues in which the officer reportedly saw Wingo throwing items out of his vehicle’s window along the way.

During the chase, the officer reportedly saw people sitting on their front porches who “appeared to be cheering Wingo on as he fled the traffic stop.”

Wingo was eventually caught after he jumped out of the still-moving car.

Reports said police found crack cocaine in his vehicle.

Defense attorney Lynn Maro asked Judge D’Apolito to uphold the 18-month sentencing recommendation by Assistant Prosecutor Shawn Burns. Maro said her client had no weapons and the case stemmed from his drug use.

Wingo also apologized.

Burns said the case violated Wingo’s probation from a conviction in a previous case in federal court.