Jury finds man guilty of trying to abduct girl

He faces up to 18 months in prison.

By John W. Goodwin Jr.

YOUNGSTOWN — A Boardman township man was found guilty of trying to abduct a 14-year-old girl from a busy township road earlier this year.

Guy Krupa, 49, of Oregon Trail, was convicted of felony attempted abduction Wednesday afternoon by a jury of seven men and five women. The jury deliberated for more than four hours.

Krupa will appear for sentencing Wednesday before Judge R. Scott Krichbaum of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court. He is facing between six and 18 months in prison.

Defense Attorney Ronald Knickerbocker informed the court that he intends to file a motion asking the judge to set aside the jury’s verdict.

Earlier in the week, jurors heard from a list of witnesses for the prosecution, including the teen girl, a woman who witnessed the interaction and called police, and two Boardman police officers. Before reaching the guilty verdict Wednesday, jurors heard closing arguments from Knickerbocker and Gabriel Wildman, an assistant county prosecutor.

Wildman reminded the jury that the female witness does not know anyone involved in the case and had nothing to gain by testifying on behalf of the girl. He said the woman’s testimony about how Krupa approached and interacted with the girl shows the jury Krupa’s intentions.

Wildman also said Krupa has a series of “convenient” excuses for his interaction with the girl.

Krupa, during the trial, had said he thought the girl was in trouble and was trying to help her.

Knickerbocker reminded jurors of slight variations between the girl’s story and that of the female witness. He also said it is important to remember that Krupa stayed in his vehicle and did not threaten the girl or force the girl into his car.

Knickerbocker said a man intent on abducting a teen girl does not go to a crowded street and attempt to do so.

“Logic does not dictate that someone would do that,” he said.

The jury, ultimately, sided with the prosecution.

According to prosecutors, on the afternoon of April 13, the teen girl was walking along Southern Boulevard to meet a friend. As the girl approached Leighton Avenue, a man, who authorities say was Krupa, driving a tan sport utility vehicle, stopped at a stop sign on Leighton at Southern.

Krupa turned onto Southern and off the road, rolling down his window and blocking the girl’s path. The girl got scared and backed away. He offered her a ride, and she declined.

Prosecutors say Krupa yelled out of the vehicle’s window, “Get in the car.” When she said no, prosecutors say Krupa repeated the order saying “Get in the [expletive] car, seriously.”

jgoodwin@vindy.com