Deal clears guilty plea in Youngstown assault case | News, Sports, Jobs

Tony Hinchcliffe

YOUNGSTOWN — Richard J. Armstrong Jr., 46, who has undergone multiple evaluations to determine whether he is competent to stand trial over the past four years since being charged with aggravated robbery, aggravated assault and other charges in September 2020, accepted the plea deal Monday.

He pleaded guilty before Mahoning County Common Pleas Court Judge Anthony D’Apolito to charges of robbery, aggravated assault and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Other charges he faces are dismissed.

This was perhaps the first hearing in several years where Armstrong’s mental health was not a major issue. Armstrong, of Youngstown, has been in custody at the Mahoning County jail since August 2020, but spent some of that time in facilities where he could be evaluated or treated for mental health issues.

Armstrong’s charges were filed after an August 2020 incident at the Days Inn in Boardman, where he allegedly followed a man to the hotel and forced him into the hotel room at gunpoint.

The victim told police Armstrong pointed two guns at his head, the Boardman police report said. The victim offered Armstrong money, but Armstrong never took it. Eventually, the victim was able to leave the hotel room and contact Boardman police.

On Monday, Mark Lavelle, an attorney representing Armstrong, said his client had been “on the best side” of late and was “completely lucid, relevant, not taking his medication, but it doesn’t seem to be affecting him.” He’s at the top of his game.”

Deputy district attorney Steve Maszczak explained that prosecutors recommended that Armstrong be sentenced to 6 to 7 and a half years in prison, but the defense asked for a lesser sentence. Armstrong will be sentenced on November 19 at 2:30 p.m.

Lavelle said the judge agreed to sentence Armstrong to five to six years in prison, but said it was important for Armstrong to hear directly from the judge.

The judge said he needed to tell Armstrong all the possible sentences he could receive, but also said he planned to sentence Armstrong to five to six years in prison. But he warned him that Armstrong should not commit any violations while awaiting sentencing.

The judge also announced that Armstrong will be under post-release control for 18 months to three years after he is released from prison. If he violates post-release control terms, he could go back to prison for half the sentence he received, or 2 1/2 years.

When asked if he understood everything, Armstrong said he did but that he “wanted the record to reflect that I agreed to sign the five-year contract” and with a sentence of four years and three months in prison awaiting trial, “I expect to get out.” “He will be sentenced to prison next year.”

Lavelle said he calculated the date Armstrong would be released from prison as August 19, 2025, “if you give him five years and there are no problems.” The judge agreed with these statements and said he would give Armstrong credit “for every day you spent in prison.” “That’s the law, and I never wanted to prevent a defendant from getting that time.”