Rapist collapses in court but is sent to prison

Rapist collapses in court but is sent to prison

YOUNGSTOWN

A 38-year-old Austintown man collapsed to the courtroom floor within seconds after a judge sentenced him this morning to 15 years in prison on eight counts of raping a teenage girl.

The defendant, David T. Adams of New Road, was seen in the courtroom by a doctor and an ambulance crew after the bailiff and sheriff’s deputies cleared the courtroom of spectators.

A few minutes later, Judge John M. Durkin of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court resumed the hearing with Adams seated at the defense table and informed Adams that he’ll have to register with the sheriff quarterly as a sex offender for the rest of his life after prison.

Deputies then removed Adams from the courtroom in handcuffs.

Defense lawyers said and appeal of the sentence will be filed.

For more on this story, see tomorrow’s Vindicator and vindy.com.