Sentencing delayed 2 weeks in case of attempted abduction

By John W. Goodwin Jr.

The time will allow for the completion of a pre-sentencing investigation.

YOUNGSTOWN — A Boardman Township man convicted of attempting to abduct a 14-year-old girl from a busy township road will have to wait a little longer to learn his fate.

Guy Krupa, 49, of Oregon Trail, who was convicted of felony attempted abduction, appeared before Judge R. Scott Krichbaum of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court for sentencing Thursday. Judge Krichbaum delayed sentencing for two weeks so a pre-sentencing investigation could be conducted.

Krupa could receive probation or up to 18 months in prison. Judge Krichbaum noted the only way probation could be considered in the case is if a pre-sentencing investigation is done.

Gabriel Wildman, an assistant county prosecutor, asked the court to impose the maximum sentence on Krupa, saying the victim has said she feels safer now that Krupa is confined to the Mahoning County Jail. He also said the teen girl has just started sleeping completely through the night.

Defense lawyer Ronald Knickerbocker asked the court for leniency in sentencing taking into account Krupa’s 20 years of service in the Air Force, lack of any previous felony convictions and his lifelong area residency.

Knickerbocker made an oral motion requesting the pre-sentencing investigation.

Knickerbocker also made a motion asking the judge to set aside the guilty verdict delivered by the jury earlier this month and either find Krupa not guilty or order a new trial.

Judge Krichbaum, in ruling on the motion to set aside the verdict, expressed displeasure with certain aspects of the trial. He called a remark by Wildman during opening statements labeling Krupa as every family’s worst nightmare inappropriate.

Judge Krichbaum also noted the victim and a key witness gave differing testimonies as to some of the facts in the case. The judge spoke extensively about the charges under which Krupa was indicted — an issue also raised during the trial.

The indictment said Krupa tried to abduct the girl with threat or force. Knickerbocker, during the trial, cited the legal definition of threat or force saying neither had taken place.

Judge Krichbaum said finding threat or force in the case is not easy.

“To be honest with everyone, I conducted a lot of research about this issue, and I think it was a close call as to whether the state could make its legal burden as to threat or force,” Judge Krichbaum said. “I have been on the bench for 20 years, and I have struggled with this because I have trouble in my mind believing threat or force was used against this victim.”

Ultimately, however, the judge ruled against the motion to set the verdict aside, saying Krupa opted for a jury trial and a jury of reasonable people found him guilty.

On the afternoon of April 13, the teen girl was walking along Southern Boulevard to meet a friend. As she 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, rolled down his window, and blocked the girl’s path with his vehicle. 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, Krupa repeated the order saying, “Get in the [expletive] car, seriously,” prosecutors say

jgoodwin@vindy.com