Staff photo / Ed Runyan Arthur Carter, center, is shown during his sentencing hearing Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court. His attorneys are, from left, Joseph Messuri and Lynn Maro.

YOUNGSTOWN — Arthur Carter, a former Youngstown police officer sentenced last week to four years in state prison on three felonious assault convictions involving high school girls, received a $15,667.09 severance package from the city.

The payout is a common practice for all employees who leave the city with unused sick, vacation and other time, said Law Director Jeff Limbian. City council approved the severance policy Dec. 19, 1984.

The board of control voted 3-0 in favor of the payment Thursday.

“The fact is he earned the money and he’s entitled to it,” said Limbian, a board member. “As odd and unseemly as it seems to pay someone going off to prison, he’s entitled to what he earned in any event.”

There were four other severance packages approved Thursday — none are felons.

Mahoning County Common Pleas Judge Anthony D’Apolito sentenced Carter, who served as a Youngstown police officer for about 10 years, to four years in prison Sept. 8, calling him a “father’s worst nightmare.”

Carter, who turns 47 on Saturday, was an assistant track coach at Ursuline High School when he committed the offenses. He was indicted April 26, 2018, on 23 counts, including rape and sexual battery. He was accused of assaulting a 15-year-old girl in 2009, a 17-year-old in 2006 and an 18-year-old in 2001.

He took a plea July 9 to the three felonious assault counts.

Carter was placed on administrative leave from the police department after the initial allegations were made. His employment was terminated July 16.

Carter was making $27.07 per hour as a police officer.

His $15,667.09 severance was:

• $8,339.99 for unused sick leave.

• $4,331.47 for unused vacation time.

• $1,899.23 for vacation he accrued this year until July 16.

• $1,096.40 for what is called accumulated time. That is 40.5 hours he worked and wasn’t initially paid for, opting not to take overtime.

dskolnick@tribtoday.com