YOUNGSTOWN – Mahoning County’s Common Pleas Court Judge R. Scott Krichbaum said Monday the typical reaction people get when they hear that Anthony Consiglio raped his elderly relative is, “Man, this guy must be crazy.”
But the more important question about Consiglio’s crimes on Jan. 24 at his relative’s home in Campbell was whether Consiglio knew the illegality of his actions, the judge said.
Krichbaum concluded that Consiglio did this. And for this Krichbaum sentenced Consiglio, 26, from Mora Lane on the West Side of Youngstown, to 19 1/2 years to 25 years in prison. Krichbaum found Consiglio guilty of rape, attempted rape, aggravated robbery, robbery, theft and domestic violence during an unjury trial on June 7th.
Although one of two experts stated that Consiglio did not know the inaccuracy of his actions, the judge contradicted this opinion and gave Consiglio the reason for it.
“They apparently wanted to rape her,” said the judge of the victim. “And when it didn’t work one way, you tried another way and kept watching the window to make sure you weren’t caught,” the judge said. The almost 80-year-old victim attended the hearing but did not speak.
“And when you finished, that wasn’t enough for you. You took money from her. You picked up her phone and even went into the kitchen and picked up the kitchen phone so she couldn’t answer you, ”he continued.
“And when they caught you and confronted you about the phones, you told them it was an accident. So I think you knew what you were doing. I am sorry that you have the problem you have, but this is a malicious act committed with no regard for anyone else to look after and attempts have been made to cover it all up. “
The judge told Consiglio that “the bottom line in the court’s view is that if you are taking your medication, you are fine but you have not taken your medication”.
But he added, “You’re the one who wouldn’t take it… decided not to take it and the consequences are damned. So this is all your fault. It’s nobody else’s fault. “
Consiglio’s attorney Tom Zena said before the sentencing: “I ask the court to recognize and accept the fact that this young man has a serious mental illness.” Zena asked the judge to “make a recommendation that (Consiglio) receive psychological treatment”.
Consiglio had no criminal record prior to these convictions.
When Krichbaum asked Consiglio if he had anything to say before sentencing, Consiglio said on video from Mahoning County Jail: “No comment.”
Krichbaum said his verdict entry will include a request to the state prison system to evaluate Consiglio to see if he needs mental treatment in prison.
Consiglio is now also classified as a level 3 sex offender and must report to the sheriff’s office where he lives every 90 days after leaving prison for life.
The expert Dr. Jessica Hart of the Forensic Psychiatric Center of Northeast Ohio, who testified for the prosecution, said Consiglio could not remember the events of January 24 and testified that Consiglio had a history of paranoia and schizophrenic episodes and had not taken his medication. Hart’s report found that by the time they happened, Consiglio knew his actions were wrong.
Dr. Robert DeVies, who testified on behalf of the defense, testified that he did not think Consiglio knew what he did was a crime.
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