YOUNGSTOWN — James Jaster, 74, of South Avenue in Boardman, was sentenced to 18 months in prison Monday for his role in a Mahoning County human-trafficking ring broken up last summer.

Jaster gets credit for having already served all but 32 days of his 18 months in the Mahoning County Adult Justice Center. He will be on five years probation and must register as a sex offender every six months for 25 years.

Judge Anthony Donofrio of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court told Jaster he did not know whether officials would send Jaster to prison or allow him to finish out his 32 days in the county jail.

Last October, when Jaster pleaded guilty to three felonies in the case — two counts of compelling prostitution and one of promoting prostitution — he agreed to testify against co-defendant Ronald D. Hellman Jr., 52, of Irma Drive.

The two counts of compelling prostitution are more serious than promoting prostitution because they involve victims who were minors at the time of the offenses.

Jennifer McLaughlin, assistant county prosecutor, said she believes Jaster’s willingness to testify had an impact on Hellman pleading guilty last week instead of taking the case to trial. Jaster would have testified that Hellman brought females to Jaster’s mobile home, that Jaster paid females for sex, some of them juveniles, and paid Hellman for delivering them to him. Jaster also would have testified that Hellman gave drugs to the girls, McLaughlin said.

Hellman was sentenced last week to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to nine charges — three counts of human trafficking, four counts of promoting prostitution and two of sexual battery.

Prosecutors said Hellman forced multiple females — adults and minors — to engage in sexual conduct with himself, co-defendant Charles D. Krusac, 78, of Austintown, and others. McLaughlin said Jaster’s charges involved three victims. Hellman’s convictions involved eight victims.

Krusac was indicted on 74 charges, including rape, human trafficking and more than 40 counts associated with child pornography. Investigators found photos, videos and information about victims at Krucek’s house.

Krusac committed suicide at his home in 2018, shortly after indictments were unsealed in the case. His charges involved eight victims.

Jaster did not speak during the sentencing, but his attorney, Lou DeFabio, said Jaster is a military veteran and was a teacher.

McLaughlin said the charges brought in the case date back as far as 2012 and involve around 10 victims who were trafficked for sex at a home in Austintown, at Jaster’s home and elsewhere.

news@tribtoday.com