Amherst News-Times, 2002-05-22

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WIDNISDAY, May 22, 20(12
AMUIKSI, OHIO
Judge throws
book at rapist;
sentences him
to five life terms
by AMY PERSINGER
News-Times reporter
Judge Kosma G lavas showed
little more than disgust when he
ruled that Richard Armstrong would
never leave prison alive, sentencing
him to five life terms plus an additional S3 years behind bars.
Armstrong, 35, of Amherst
Township, was convicted of 11
counts of rape, six counts of pandering obscenity involving a minor,
four counts of illegal use of a minor
in nudity-oriented material or performance and one count each of
gross sexual imposition and attempted rape. The jury of seven men
and five women had rejected his
plea of not guilty by reason of insanity last Thursday and convicted
him on all counts.
He was convicted of raping, videotaping and photographing four
girls, three of them under the age of
13. One of the videotapes showed
him coaching two of the pre-teen
girls to simulate sex acts with one
another and an animal.
Glavas also ruled that Armstrong
is a sexually violent predator, which
means he agreed with assistant prosecutor Anthony Cilia that Armstrong would likely commit similar
acts again if given the opportunity.
Armstrong's defense attorney
James Burge argued that the predator status is unnecessary. Cilia said
that with the life sentence comes the
possibility of parole in 10 years. He
argued that with that chance of parole, Armstrong would be a threat to
society.
"He is the poster child for why
this law exists," Cilia told the
crowded courtroom.
Cilia also argued that it was the
defense's own psychological expert
who told the court most clearly that
a person with the paraphiliac and
pedophiliac compulsions like Armstrong's arc extremely difficult to
treat.
Cilia said in his closing statements that if given the opportunity
to commit thc acts he'd been convicted of again, Armstrong would.
He said Armstrong needs to be
locked up for life without parole.
"Society deserves to be safe,"
Cilia told the court
Burge countered that Armstrong
didn't fit the legal definition for sexually violent predator status. He
noted that Armstrong had no prior
convictions of any nature, let alone
of a sexual nature. He also said that
parts of the law are vague and not
clearly defined.
Glavas said that there are certain
parts of the law he doesn't completely agree with, but he ruled that
Armstrong is a sexually violent predator and therefore must face the
mandatory sentence of life without
the possibility of parole on the 11
counts.
The four girls he was convicted
of abusing sat with mothers, grandmothers and aunts in the front row
of the court to witness the sentencing after being given an opportunity
to address Glavas.
Armstrong showed no emotion
while the three men discussed his
fate nor while his victims addressed
the judge.
Every seat in the courtroom was
taken as liie girls recounted the horror they felt at being victimized by
Armstrong.
The oldest girl made a statement
first
CONTINUED on page 8
Afternoon of yesteryear
Residents got a good look at what life was like a long time ago,    shops were an everyday necessity, during the Amherst Historical
when baseball teams played by different rules, and blacksmith    Society's annual blacksmith town fair held Saturday.
Council must find cash
to pay for summer help
by AMY PERSINQER
News-Times reporter
There won't be any summer park
help in Amherst this year because
there will be no money to pay them
or their supervisor unless serious
budget changes are made before
cash runs out June 1.
According to mayor John Higgins
and city auditor Diane Eswine, money in the parks and pool fund was
supposed to be used to pay summer
help in the paries and life guards at
the pool. The salaries for two permanent part-time parks employees
were moved to the street funds because they also do grounds work on
city property.
The administration told council
that paying the two out of the
bloated street fund would help curb
the depletion of the general fund
and place the employees under the
authority of the safety service
director.
But last Monday night city council voted to kill on second reading
an ordinance that would have
changed the two part-time employees from being employees of the
parks and recreation department to a
new designation of groundsktfepers
that would be paid from the street
department fund whenever they
worked on city property.
Their pay has been budgeted
within the street department and not
in the park department
According to the administration
there will only be enough money to
pay the Amherst city employees out
of the current fund until June 1 and
there will be no money left to pay
summer help including life guards.
The ordinance had previously
gone through its customary discussion in committee and had already
been passed on first reading, but immediately questions started flying
from some members of council.
Fourth ward councilwoman Jennifer Wasilk asked the administration where the money to pay the
groundskeepers was going to come
from and the auditor confirmed that
CONTINUED on paga 2
Champion wrestler invited
to compete, train in China
Marion L. Steele High School
wrestling coach BUI Walker continues to hdp his students, even after they've graduated and moved on
to college.
Walker is helping to spread the
word that his former wrestler, Jake
Percival, is raking money to make a
trip to China this summer to wrestle.
Poppies prevail
Mayor John Higgins receive* a poppy from poppy sales to
daft) Nicola RaJnay, 0. of Wakeman. and Carty gantaed by ttw
Croyle. 7, of Arnharat, In honor of tha annual   unft.
veterans. Tha aata ta or-
UgtonandUaAutdlary
Pordval is a student at Ohio University. As a freshman, he was the
first wrestler to be aimed All-
America* from the univeraity, ac-
oonKa| to Amherst's dew of students aria Frombach.
Waiter said tiiat Per-Jvtf pbrad  ofhrts.
fourth at ttw National Collegiate
Wrestling Tournament.
This honor look a gnat deal of
sacrifice and dedication,'' Walker
said.
Because of Ms occomplishnents,
the National Wrestling Coaches Association and USA Wrestling
selected Percival to travel, wrestle
and bain in Pftfff. China, in June,
according to Walter.
Wafterdsoaridthatkisiviofc.
rinn nf ihr Nutans! fnll^n AtMi-V
Association rales for oofisaes or
coUepe coaches to fond any pan of
tfw tour o* ana assist la -VdraWM
In China Percival will have the
opportunity to wrestle various Chinese opponents and will be provided
four training sessions at local wrestling clubs in Baying.
The trip originates in Detroit,
Mich., and win test from June
10-19.
The American wrestlers will also
be visiting Tienamcn Square, Per*
biddraCjtV.TetapleefllBawBa.ttsi
Ming Tombs end the Great Well ef