Man sentenced in theft of sculpture

By D.a. Wilkinson

LISBON — Columbiana County Common Pleas Court Judge C. Ashley Pike on Friday sentenced a man for his role in stealing an icon at the Columbiana Public Library in 2008.

Matthew Stouffer, 23, of North Cross Street, was sentenced to 10 months in prison for his part in the theft of the sculpture “The Readers.”

The bronze sculpture of a boy and girl reading a book has been on display, inside and out of the library, for years.

The sculpture valued at $12,500 was stolen in 2008, but it was quickly recovered.

Youngstown police found the sculpture at a local scrap facility.

Judge Pike on Friday ordered Stouffer to pay restitution of $368 to the library.

Librarian Carol Cobbs said that $331 of the restitution goes to Youngstown Iron and Metal. The money will cover the money the company paid for the piece, she said.

The rest went to cover the costs of the library’s reinstalling the piece.

Stouffer told Judge Pike that he has a “heroin addiction.”

Judge Pike told him, “You are a bit of a menace to society.” But he urged Stouffer to take advantage of any programs that would help him during his incarceration.

“We want you to come out a better person,” the judge said.

A second man, Michael Nagel, 25, who had addresses in Columbiana and Youngstown, has served a 10-month prison sentence for receiving stolen property in the case.

wilkinson@vindy.com