LISBON — A 25-year-old Youngstown man may have begun treating his addiction problems, but not soon enough to avoid a prison sentence being imposed in Common Pleas Court on Friday.

Cody A. Lawson was sentenced by Judge Scott Washam to two years and nine months in prison for grand theft of a motor vehicle, trespass in a habitation, obstructing official business, attempted failure to comply with an order or signal of a police officer, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and resisting arrest.

Some of the charges stemmed from Lawson’s actions on Sept. 17, 2020, while others occured when he was out on bond from that case on Dec. 17, 2020.

Assistant County Prosecutor Tammie Riley Jones talked about the actions of Lawson, which put not only himself in danger but also police and those around him. Jones pointed out Lawson violated the sanctity of another person’s property when there was a family at home.

Lawson had a 2012 KIA Soul without the consent of the owner Jo Marie Broffman, had fled from police first at a high rate of speed in the vehicle and then on foot, and then had broken into the home of Taira Scullion, East Sixth Street, Salem, in an attempt to avoid arrest. He was found hiding under a vehicle outside when police arrived on Sept. 17.

Then on Dec. 17, Lawson had stolen a vehicle the owner, Dylan Mayfield, had cleaned off and left warming up in front of an East Perry Street, Salem, home. Then Lawson drove back down the same street a few minutes later and was stopped by Mayfield and other witnesses, who pulled him from the vehicle and held him until police arrived. Mayfield’s iPhone 7 was inside the vehicle when it was stolen.

Defense attorney James Wise told Washam Lawson had been dealing with substance abuse issues during the time of these crimes, but sometime this spring while he was at the Columbiana County Jail, Wise said Lawson made a decision to choose another path. Although Wise said defendants often say they can get drugs at the county jail, Lawson decided to stop using and then began attending substance abuse meetings.

“(I gave the court paperwork showing) 25 meetings that he has gone to, not because he was court ordered, but because he is serious about his sobriety,” Wise said. He also said Lawson has obtained a job, is looking at education options and “looking to become a better person.”

Lawson’s mother, Dawn Marie Johnston, said she has struggled with her own addiction problems, but has been sober a year and four months. She believes leading by example has helped her son and she no longer needs to worry about him because he now that he is sober he calls home and helps out.

“I’ve not seen my son smile in a long time,” Johnson said. “It’s a pleasure to see him smile.”

Asking Washam to consider granting him community control with time at the Eastern Ohio Corrections Center, Lawson told Washam he would give the program 100 percent of his efforts.

“We always say actions speak louder than words,” Wise said. “Certainly Mr. Lawson’s actions are speaking volumes.”

While Washam spoke positively about the good strides Lawson has made in his life, he also pointed out he began his criminal behavior in 2017. Washam questioned why he did not take his sobriety more serious then or when he committed more crimes in 2019 or even between the two cases in September and December of last year.

djohnson@mojonews.com