2012-01-17
By Moriah Balingit
A man who was convicted of causing more than $15,000 worth of damage during G20 protests in 2009 will restart his five years’ probation after pleading guilty to summary charges of obstructing roadways and disorderly conduct stemming from another protest last year.
Common Pleas Judge Edward Borkowski today sentenced David Japenga, of Garfield, to time served — he remained in jail from late August to early December — and to restart the probation he received on his conviction of charges stemming from the G20 protests. The penalty is also for violating his previous term of probation by getting arrested.
In August, Mr. Japenga was one of about 100 people who gathered outside of the Pleasure Bar in Bloomfield to protest violence against the gay and lesbian community. Police said they asked the group not to block the road and to move to Friendship Park, but Mr. Japenga refused to comply.
Mr. Japenga’s attorney, Patrick Nightingale, emphasized that his client is working two jobs in order to make payments toward the more than $12,000 in restitution he still owes. He will petition to have his client’s probation ended early if he completes payments before his term is up.