Judge says he won’t take a chance on man who asks for probation in domestic violence case

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) — Derrick Stennis asked a judge Thursday to take a chance on him.

The judge, however, told Stennis, 31, he was not taking a chance on him based on his record, his refusal to admit what he did, and his concerns about the safety of the woman he pleaded guilty to hitting.

“I need you to take a chance on me,” Stennis said during his sentencing hearing in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court on charges of abduction and domestic violence.

“I’m not taking a chance,” Judge D’Apolito replied. “I don’t want that young lady to be hurt.”

“I won’t hurt her,” Stennis answered.

“I know how you can’t hurt her: if you’re in prison,” the judge responded.

Stennis pleaded guilty in March to the charges just after a jury was selected to hear the case. In exchange for his plea, prosecutors recommended a sentence of two years in prison while Stennis’ attorney, James Wise, argued for a lesser sentence, including probation.

Stennis has been in the Mahoning County Jail since Aug. 11, when he was arrested by Boardman police . That arrest came two days after a woman called police and said Stennis attacked her at her home. Reports said a woman told police that Stennis came up from behind her and forced his way inside, where she said he “manhandled” her on a couch, asking if she was dating someone.

Reports said the woman managed to get away, grab her gun and call 911. Stennis ran away, taking the woman’s purse as he did, which had several personal belongings inside. The abduction charge is because authorities said Stennis also took the daughter the two share.

He also faces unrelated charges of abduction and felony domestic violence that were bound over from Youngstown Municipal Court for an incident on Aug. 3 in the city. Details of that case are not available. The grand jury has yet to hear that case.

Assistant Prosecutor Kevin Day asked that Judge D’Apolito impose a two-year sentence. Day said the victim in the case was prepared to testify but the plea meant that she did not have to confront him in court. Day said the victim wants a fresh start and it would be easier to get that start without Stennis in her life.

Wise asked for a lesser sentence of probation, telling the judge his client has no prior felony criminal record and no weapon was used during the incident.

Stennis said he was sorry but he also said he took his daughter because she was in an unsafe environment, and he did not hit the victim but he brushed up against her face when she grabbed him, which caused her to bleed.

He asked for probation, saying he misses his daughter and needs to care for a sick relative. He also said he does not want to go to prison.

Judge D’Apolito said that based on prior incidents with the victim and the details of the case he was pleading guilty to, he did not feel probation was appropriate. Judge D’Apolito said his primary concern was protecting the victim in the case.

When Stennis kept saying he didn’t want to go to prison, Judge D’Apolito said he could have sentenced him to more than two years but he agreed to that sentence as the maximum when Stennis made his pleas.

Stennis will be given credit for 273 days served in the county jail while awaiting the outcome of his case toward his sentence.

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