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LISBON -- An East Palestine man pleaded guilty in Common Pleas Court to charges in two theft-related cases, one from late 2018 and the other from early 2020.
In one of the cases, Brian F. Buckley, 27, Wood Street, East Palestine, pleaded guilty to burglary and having weapons while under a disability for allegedly breaking into an
East Grant Street home belonging to Don Marchak on Dec. 1, 2018 for the purpose of committing a theft and having guns when he had a prior conviction for trafficking in drugs.
Buckley also pleaded guilty to a receiving stolen property charge, which involved having the stolen vehicle of a Pizza Joe's delivery driver, Michael Rosenberg. Buckley and a co-defendant were accused of placing an order, then hiding outside to take the 2010 Nissan Rogue belonging to Rosenberg and driving it north to Youngstown on March 28, 2020.
The burglary charge is a second-degree felony, the weapons while under a disability charge is a third-degree felony and the receiving stolen property charge is a fourth-degree felony.
As part of a plea agreement, Assistant County Prosecutor Ryan Weikart agreed he would not pursue a misdemeanour charge related to the 2020 crime, a charge of violating rule or order of department of health. That charge accused Buckley of going to Youngstown in the vehicle while the state was under the stay at home order of then Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton.
Although Weikart and Assistant County Prosecutor Steven Yacovone indicated they plan to request a three-year sentence, Buckley could face up to a 12 and a half year sentence and a $30,000 fine for the charges.
Defense attorney Rhys Cartwright-Jones indicated he plans to ask for a lesser sentence. Judge Scott Washam requested a presentencing investigation and sentencing was scheduled for April 1.