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YOUNGSTOWN -- A boy, 16, captured Sept. 3 after a near-riot at the Canfield Fair that included gunfire, on Wednesday was given probation until he is 21 years old.
He also received a suspended 18-month state sentence and a suspended 12-month county sentence. As terms of his probation, he must continue counseling and remain in school.
The Campbell youth faced Mahoning County Juvenile Court Judge Theresa Dellick, who told him to build relationships with his teachers and stay out of trouble -- or else "those sentences will come back."
He had spent about 80 days in the Mahoning County Juvenile Justice Center before Dellick released him. She said she remained impressed with his behavior which had improved after counseling.
Dellick also applauded the efforts of the boy's mother for getting him to comply with the court's orders.
After asking about his relationship with his teachers, Dellick told the boy to show them "the good in you."
"They can help you with your future plans," she told him.
WHAT HAPPENED
On Nov. 1, 2022, the 16-year-old had pleaded "true" or guilty to one low-level felony count each of aggravated riot and inducing panic, and five misdemeanor offenses: aggravated trespass, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, carrying a concealed weapon and tampering with evidence.
He was released from custody a day or two later, but had to return to the juvenile justice center when Dellick deemed he had a bad attitude. At a Jan. 4 hearing, Dellick learned that the boy had committed a number of violations while he was free, including poor performance at school, turning off his electronic monitoring bracelet, not showing up for an appointment at the justice center and moving without telling court staff his new address.
On Wednesday, the judge said she had seen improvement in him.
"That smile is back on your face," she said before sentencing.
A Canfield police officer arrested the boy who was running near the camping area near Gate C of the fairgrounds. After the chase, police said they recovered a gun they saw the boy throw under a vehicle. The incident occurred near the parking lot area where gunshots were fired a short time earlier.
A woman told Canfield officers her Dodge Durango parked just outside of Gate C had been struck by a bullet. Anissa Modarelli, county assistant prosecutor, said during an earlier hearing the gun the boy had did not match the gun that hit the Durango in the parking lot.
That episode followed incidents that began about 9:30 p.m. Sept. 3 with youths causing mayhem and fighting in another part of the fairgrounds.
Several young adults were charged in those fracases. The fair was disrupted that evening, but it reopened the next day.
gvogrin@tribtoday.com