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Summit County Council hopeful arrested in 2003
By Rick Armon
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Wednesday, Sep 17, 2008
A Summit County Council candidate is asking a judge to seal court records about his felony breaking-and-entering arrest five years ago.
Mark R. Young, 28, of Barberton was arrested in September 2003 after he and another man broke into the Christian Brotherhood Newsletter, a Christian ministry in Barberton, and stole a $250 popcorn machine.
Young, a Republican running this year against longtime Councilman Tim Crawford for the council's District 7 seat, pleaded guilty and entered a diversion program in 2004. He successfully completed the program and his guilty plea was not filed with the court, meaning he is not a convicted felon, authorities said.
He filed paperwork last week in county Common Pleas Court to have the criminal record sealed.
The request is pending.
Young called the breaking and entering ''a childish prank that escalated into something,'' and said he wants it eliminated from his record.
He also had attempted to run for Barberton mayor, but was tossed off the ballot for not having enough valid signatures on his election petitions.
Crawford, a Democrat, provided a copy of the police report and court records to the media this week.
''It's very obvious that he has a very questionable background,'' he said.
Young said that Crawford visited his home and bullied him with the information.
''He told me to drop out of the election or he was going to smear my name,'' Young said. ''I told him to do what you've got to do.''
District 7 includes Barberton, Norton, New Franklin, Clinton and parts of Coventry Township and Akron.
Rick Armon can be reached at 330-996-3569 or rarmon@thebeaconjournal.com.
A Summit County Council candidate is asking a judge to seal court records about his felony breaking-and-entering arrest five years ago.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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Akron, OH
Posted 08:51 AM, 09/17/2008
You are currently 28 years of age, the crime took place in 2003(5 years ago). You claim that breaking and entering ''a childish prank that escalated into something,'' and wants it eliminated from your record. Don't think so, you were an adult at the time of the crime, sorry about your luck.
AKRON, OH
Posted 09:07 AM, 09/17/2008
EXACTLY - OLD ENOUGH TO KNOW BETTER. NOW YOU MUST LIVE WITH THIS MISTAKE, AS WELL AS CARRY IT ON YOUR RECORD.
Bizarrebertucky, OH
Posted 09:29 AM, 09/17/2008
Honest, he was just practicing up to become a crooked polititian, like all the rest of them.
Akron, OH
Posted 10:41 AM, 09/17/2008
Probably got the idea from his fellow felon who tried to run for a council seat in Cleveland last November. Wanna really help your city? Volunteer at a church kitchen. Typical Barbertucky.
Posted 11:00 AM, 09/17/2008
He wasn't urinating while drunk he violated someone eles lively-hood and should live with his crime. Fireworks because Pigs ignore Copley Road policing.Menacing ,A Pig's wife menacing citizens with pistol and dog.Asking myself (Me of All People) my name when I'm knocking on a friends door? No comparison he wasn't being harrassed by the Pigs or their Stalkers even if they were dope pushers.Get A Life Guy !!!! Sincerely, Paul D.Brown P.S. I never forget that knock on the door at 777 Copley Rd. when Akron Bookie Greg Mills asked the Pigs "Who is it ?"
Posted 11:16 AM, 09/17/2008
I have to agree with the others that have said you were an adult (22 years old) when you committed this dumb act. As far as I am concerned you are a convicted felon and should not be permitted to run for office, vote and any elections, or hold the public trust. When you violate other's rights in the US and are convicted then you lose your rights forever. I have a brother that did something dumb, was convicted, served his time in jail, and lost his rights. He hasn't voted for 25 years now although he contributes to society and worthy causes, but he knew the rules and laws. Grow up, be a man, and keep your nose clean. Mr. Crawford, if there is any truth to this article and you did go to this young man's home and threaten him, you need to be thrown out of office and arrested for harrassment! Let us do some digging into your background. Will we find anything on you? Let the press and the public opinion handle this, we don't need you pounded on his door!!!!
Akron, OH
Posted 01:32 PM, 09/17/2008
Hey, Mark your brother can register to vote. You are qualified to vote if: 1. You are a citizen of the United States. 2. You are at least 18 years old on or before the day of the general election. If you will be 18 on or before November 4, 2008 you may vote in the primary election for candidates, but not on issues. 3. You will be a resident of Summit County for at least 30 days immediately before the election. 4. You are not incarcerated (in prison) for a felony conviction under the laws of the United States, this state or any other state of the United States. 5. You have not been declared incompetent for voting purposes by a probate court. 6. You register to vote at least 30 days before the election.
Akron, OH
Posted 03:46 PM, 09/17/2008
Felicia....If you have a felony on your record, you cannot vote. I know lots of people when they were 18, 19, 20 yrs old that did some stupid things and ended up with a felony conviction and they cannot vote
Green, OH
Posted 04:33 PM, 09/17/2008
Shawnnie - You are repeating a common misconception. Voting rights of felons vary by state. A couple of states even allow inmates to vote. Mark - You brother can actually petition to have his voting rights restored or he can just try the registration route as suggested by Felicia.
Green, OH
Posted 04:54 PM, 09/17/2008
COLUMBUS - Hamilton County elections officials are providing "misleading and erroneous" voting information to ex-felons, a Cincinnati-area prisoner advocacy group said Tuesday. The Prison Reform Advocacy Center surveyed 140 former state prison inmates and talked to all 88 county boards of elections. The group found that one in five ex-felons don't realize they can re-register to vote, and some election boards were unaware of the law. "This is absolutely unacceptable that boards of elections that are supposed to know Ohio law ... are giving misleading, inconsistent and flat-out wrong information to ex-offenders," said David Singleton, executive director of the center. Ohio is one of 12 states, plus the District of Columbia, that allows ex-felons to regain voting rights once released from prison.
Posted 12:19 PM, 09/18/2008
Oh my goodness! The candidate is not asking for special treatement, he is WITHIN HIS RIGHTS to petition to have the record sealed. HE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE DIVERSION PROGRAM> He is older and wiser now, and looking to serve in public office. Do ya suppose that others in public offices throughout the land have juvenile records, or adult records that have been sealed. IT IS WITHIN THEIR RIGHTS. Now re: the incumbent threatening to expose him, that sounds like a true SCUMBAG to me. Congratulations to Mr. Young to stand up to that bullying tactic. I wish Mr. Young much success.
