Latest news with #D'Apolito
Yahoo
04-02-2025
- Yahoo
Bank robber sentenced to Veterans Court in Youngstown
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) — An 83-year-old Austintown man accused of robbing a township bank pleaded guilty Tuesday to a charge of robbery in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court. Read next: Los Gallos owner explains reasoning for Monday closure In exchange for his plea, Forrest Lytell was placed into the county's Veterans Court by Judge Anthony D'Apolito. If Lytell completes the programs offered by the court, the charge against him will be dropped. Judge D'Apolito told Lytell while he wants to help him, he also has to look at his actions and how they affected other people, especially the bank employees who were working the day the bank was robbed. 'You are very fortunate you have a prosecutor and a defense attorney who are willing to work with you,' Judge D'Apolito said. Judge D'Apolito told Lytell he wanted to know why he was in such dire straits that he felt he needed to rob a bank and find a way to fix that issue. 'We have a lot of work to do,' the judge said. Reports said police answered a holdup alarm about 10:20 a.m. Nov 20 at a 4949 Mahoning Ave. bank where a teller said a man later identified as Lytell gave her a note saying, 'Give me all the money or else.' The teller complied and slipped in some bills that had a tracking device, reports said. Reports said Lytell took the money and left out the front door. Police were able to track the money to an address in the double-digit block of South Anderson Avenue, near a wooded area. Police went there and an officer spotted Lytell near the wooded area, where he was taken into custody. Lytell told police the money was in a shed in a nearby yard, reports said. Police looked there and found the money, reports said. When asked if had anything to say, reports said Lytell replied, 'How did you guys find me so fast?' At his arraignment a few days later in Mahoning County Area Court in Austintown, Lytell told the judge he has been retired since 2001 and has only Social Security to live on. He told the judge he needed help. He was able to post $13,000 bond after he was arraigned and has been free ever since. He was indicted Jan. 9 by a grand jury. Lytell served in the United States Army for two years from 1961-63 followed by four years of service in the United States Navy. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Austintown grapples with fallout from failed police levy
AUSTINTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) – Austintown officials warned in November that the failure of their police levy would have consequences. Officials are taking a hard look at the bottom line and what it means for the township's police department 'We're looking to have about $870,000 at the end of 2025 in the general fund unless departments perform better than expected,' said Austintown Township Administrator Mark D'Apolito, The township is starting at a budget shortfall. American Rescue Plan money and other assistance has expired, and a police levy that would have generated $2.2 million per year failed in November. It's something they could revisit in the future. 'Everything we are doing now is to try to get us to a future year to try and get the police levy another time on the ballot. To try and show the voters that hey, you told us to try and deal with less and we are going to try to do our best to do that, but ultimately if we're going to maintain or go back to the way things have been, we're going to need additional levies,' D'Apolito said. Currently, the township is looking at cutting overtime was well as hiking rates for its dispatch center to generate more cash flow Equipment and cruisers are also in limbo as the township looks for ways to pinch pennies.'That's why we're taking the precautionary measures now, .which might be a slight inconvenience to some. But in the big scheme of things, is to protect all of you in the end to avoid the serious cuts,' said Austintown Township Trustee Bruce Shepas. Further complicating matters, the township receives a federal grant that provides about $700,000 to the department. On Tuesday, the Trump Administration tried to freeze federal funding, creating confusion for township officials on whether or not that money would be available. However, a judge has thawed the freeze on grants and loans at least until Monday. Administration officials said the decision to halt loans and grants — a financial lifeline for local governments, schools and nonprofit organizations around the country — was necessary to ensure that spending was reviewed and complies with Trump's recent blitz of executive orders. But a vaguely worded memo issued by the Office of Management and Budget, combined with incomplete answers from the White House throughout the day, left lawmakers, public officials and average Americans struggling to figure out what programs would be affected by the pause. Even temporary interruptions in funding could cause layoffs or delays in public services. 'We have not received word for sure that it's going to impact this grant,' D'Apolitio said. Police officers are wary of falling below staffing minimums of five officers per shift, a stipulation mandated in the current collective bargaining agreement between the township and the police union. Right now, laying off officers is not on the table. 'Without a doubt, if revenues don't increase going into future years, there's a very distinct possibility of some staff changes,' D'Apolito said. Township officials say this is all to prevent layoffs. They're not sure at what point they'd explore another police levy. There is a renewal levy that comes up every five years that is expected to be on the ballot in May. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
