Tue, May 13 2008
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Published May 08, 2008 11:58 pm - A Conneaut councilman will spend 10 days in jail after he was found guilty Thursday night of two drunken-driving charges. Conneaut councilman sentenced to jail term Chicatelli loses driving privileges, faces house arrest By MARK TODD - Staff Writer - mtodd@starbeacon.com Star Beacon CONNEAUT — A Conneaut councilman will spend 10 days in jail after he was found guilty Thursday night of two drunken-driving charges.
Councilman-at-Large Jacob Chicatelli will also serve 36 days in house arrest and lose driving privileges for one year, said visiting Judge Ralph Perk Jr., who sentenced the veteran legislator moments after the verdicts were read. “I had my day in court,” Chicatelli said outside the courtroom. “The jury found me guilty. I'll live with it.” The jury of six women and two men deliberated nearly five hours on the case, returning a verdict shortly after 8:30 p.m. An alternate juror was excused at the start of deliberations. Chicatelli showed no emotion as the verdicts were read. Later, he shook hands with prosecutor Amanda Condon and praised the jury for its time and attention. The city law director's office requested an outside prosecutor to avoid any hint of conflict of interest. Condon, an assistant Ashtabula County prosecutor, was pleased with the verdict. “I appreciate the amount of time the jury spent on the matter,” she said. “They came to the right outcome. I was just doing my job. I harbor no ill will toward Mr. Chicatelli.” Defense attorney Joseph Morse said afterward he was disappointed with the outcome but lauded the jurors’ diligence to the case. “Certainly we are respectful of the good citizens of Conneaut's decision,” he said. “Certainly we are not in agreement. But the jury acquitted themselves very well and gave deliberate thought and attention to one of their fellow citizens.” Morse said it was premature to consider any appeal. The two-day trial came nearly 11 months after Chicatelli, 52, was cited on June 23 after a 2:18 a.m. traffic stop on Broad Street near the Norfolk and Southern Railway bridge. Chicatelli was charged with operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, plus operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs and refusing a chemical test with a prior conviction. Additionally, he was ticketed for failing to use a turn signal, the offense that would ultimately attract the attention of the arresting officer. In handing down his sentence, Perk merged the two OMVI charges into one. He sentenced Chicatelli to 90 days in jail, but suspended all but the 10 days in jail and the 36 days of house arrest. If possible, Chicatelli will complete his jail term before Aug. 8, Perk said. Chicatelli was also fined $1,000 and costs, with $400 of the sum conditionally suspended. He was fined $75 and costs on the turn signal offense. 
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