WARREN - The second of two men charged with massive vandalism last spring at the construction site of the new Niles McKinley High School was sentenced Thursday to six months in jail and another six to eight months in an alternative sentencing program.
Joseph Barrickman II, 20, of Woodside Drive, Leavittsburg, also will be placed on five years of probation and pay half the amount of restitution ordered by the court, according to the sentence from Judge Ronald Rice.
In a twist from last month's sentencing of a co-defendant, Rice ordered restitution payments of at least $100 a month to contractors. The judge also required letters of apology to contractors the schools and others, with the strict requirement that the letters must be 200 words or longer.
Rice ordered that Barrickman perform 200 hours of community service at the school complex.
Barrickman and Michael Butler, 20, of Robbins Avenue, Weathersfield, both pleaded guilty to four counts of vandalism, aggravated theft and criminal damaging. A charge of robbery was dismissed in exchange for both pleas.
Butler was recently given a similar sentence by another judge.
Assistant county prosecutor Gabe Wildman said neither man had significant criminal histories. He said Coates Construction, Hammond Construction, Niles City Schools and two private homeowners near the school all suffered losses.
Both men turned themselves into Niles police after the vandalism was discovered at the school property.
Police said more than $100,000 in damage was estimated after heavy equipment was used to tear a path of destruction on and off the school property last March.
Police said the pair used an excavator for the joyride at the school grounds where numerous work sheds, portable toilets, a privately owned swimming pool, a deck, and fencing on Wade Avenue were destroyed. The rear of a vacant home on Woodland Avenue also was destroyed.
According to witnesses, the two men also were involved in an altercation with a resident who yelled at them to stop.