LISBON — A man who stole $3,598 worth of belongings from another person’s room at the Homeworth residence where he was staying in May 2024 was sentenced to 10 months in prison.

Robert Ross Jr., 36, whose address was listed as Cleveland, appeared for sentencing Friday before Columbiana County Common Pleas Court Judge Megan Bickerton, who cited his lengthy criminal history and acknowledged that there was more to this case, saying “this goes deeper than just a normal theft.”

That’s because the victim in the case was hospitalized at the time of the theft with depression and took his own life at the age of 46 on June 10, 2024, shortly after coming home and discovering his belongings missing, including a laptop containing precious photos.

His sister addressed the court and asked the judge to give Ross the maximum penalty, talking about her brother and how he wrote in a suicide note that “he lost his sense of security.” The laptop was important to him.

She talked about Ross, saying “he’s not a good person. He knows how to manipulate people.”

When he had his opportunity to address the court, Ross said he felt like he accepted the plea to get the case behind him. He also addressed the victim’s death and said “no way that should be put on my shoulders. None of that was me. I didn’t steal anything.”

County Assistant Prosecutor Steve Yacovone told the judge the prosecution had a text message from Ross regarding the laptop.

Bickerton pointed out that Ross was staying at this family’s residence and they were providing for him and asked “did you not send the text message? That sounds like an acknowledgment that you took the computer.”

“His life was in that laptop,” she told Ross.

The possible maximum for the case was 12 months, with defense attorney Charley Kidder asking for community control, saying his client had drug issues at the time.