Jovanovich

Staff report

WARREN — A Ypsilanti, Mich. man who worked for a marijuana manufacturer in that state was sentenced in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court to a year in prison on a marijuana possession charge that resulted from a 2020 traffic stop on the Ohio Turnpike.

Eric S. Jovanovich, 28, appeared with his attorney Michael J. Goldberg of Cleveland on Wednesday for a sentencing hearing before Judge W. Wyatt McKay. Jovanovich on Aug. 8 pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of third-degree marijuana possession after being indicted on second-degree trafficking and possession charges. As terms of the plea agreement, both Goldberg and prosecutors had agreed on a prison sentence of no less than 12 months but no more than 30 months for Jovanovich.

The case stemmed from a Sept. 1, 2020, traffic stop in Trumbull County by Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers who found a large amount of marijuana in the trunk of Jovanovich’s vehicle, according to reports.

Jovanovich told the judge he had made a “huge mistake” and that it won’t happen again.

“I caused a lot of harm to myself, my family and my friends,” he toldMcKay.

Goldberg said his client, who is a graduate of Bowling Green State University, had regularly performed community service through his fraternity including work at food banks and animal shelters.

Jovanovich “has shown genuine remorse,” Goldberg said, and he will never be able to have a job in that line of work again.

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