Prosecutor: Man who induced panic at post office last year lied

YOUNGSTOWN — Judge Maureen A. Sweeney of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court has granted the prosecution’s request to vacate the guilty plea of David Kopnitsky, the man charged with triggering a three-hour evacuation of the downtown post office last summer.

Michael J. McBride, assistant county prosecutor, asked that Kopnitsky’s guilty plea be vacated because McBride said a postal inspector believed Kopnitsky lied Wednesday when he denied making the 911 calls that caused the panic July 30, 2007.

Kopnitsky, 29, of Grafton, had earlier pleaded guilty to inducing panic, and the prosecution agreed to drop a charge of making false alarms.

“As part of that agreement, the defendant was supposed to and agreed to cooperate fully with federal authorities to provide information as to what happened at the post office,” McBride said.

For the complete story, see Thursday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com.