Staff photo / Ed Runyan Damian Cessna, 29, of Boardman, appeared by video hookup Thursday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court for a hearing on whether Judge Maureen Sweeney should release Cessna from prison early. She granted the motion.

YOUNGSTOWN — Damian Cessna, 29, who charged at a Boardman police officer while holding a knife early July 13, 2021, resulting in Cessna being shot multiple times by the officer and later being convicted of felonious assault, was granted early release from prison Thursday.

Cessna was expected to return to a relative’s home in Boardman later Thursday.

The Mahoning County Prosecutor’s office did not oppose Cessna being released early. Cessna’s attorney, Mark Lavelle, told Judge Maureen Sweeney of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court there was not much to say after Cessna’s two trials and other matters over several years.

But Lavelle asked Cessna if he had anything to say. Cessna was unsure what to say but finally said he wanted badly to get out of prison, saying, “It’s scary here.”

When prompted by Sweeney and Lavelle, he added, “I plan on pretty much not leaving my house, other than the grocery store. I don’t really know what else to add to that. All I know is if I have one goal, it’s to never be back here. That’s the only thing on my mind.”

Before giving the OK for Cessna to leave prison, Sweeney warned Cessna that if he is unable to avoid criminal activity during the probation part of his sentence, “You are going right back to prison. Do you understand?”

“Yes,” Cessna said.

Cessna entered prison July 29 after being convicted at trial of felonious assault in May 2025. Sweeney sentenced Cessna to four to six years in prison in June 2025.

The felonious assault conviction was based on an incident on South Avenue in Boardman at 12:30 a.m. when a Boardman officer saw Cessna riding a bicycle late at night with no lights on while holding a baseball bat. Cessna also was on the wrong side of the road.

The officer said he pulled Cessna over out of concern for Cessna’s safety. Cessna put down the baseball bat but refused when the officer asked Cessna to take a knife from a sheath on Cessna’s belt and toss it away.

Mahoning County Prosecutor Lynn Maro said at Cessna’s sentencing hearing last year she believed Cessna needed treatment and intensive supervision when he leaves prison.

The officer involved in the confrontation told Sweeney at Cessna’s sentencing hearing he believed Cessna was on his way to the home of a “romantic rival” the night of the incident and was armed with knives and a baseball bat to “confront him about stealing his girlfriend.”

The officer said, “I interrupted Mr. Cessna’s mission that night, and it immediately escalated to an act of violence, not an act of violence by me, an act of violence by Mr. Cessna.”