Ravenna Township woman's guilty plea in illegal gun case could be vacated, record cleared

A Ravenna Township woman could have her conviction vacated following a guilty plea for purchasing a dozen firearms for a man not legally allowed to possess them.

Judge Laurie J. Pittman granted intervention in lieu of conviction for Jennifer A. Clingerman, 46, during her sentencing Friday morning in Portage County Common Pleas Court. If Clingerman successfully completes the program's requirements, her guilty plea could be vacated and her conviction removed from her record.

Her co-defendant, Jason A. Flynn, 47, was previously sentenced.

The Portage County Sheriff's Office said that as the result of an investigation, a search warrant was executed at Flynn and Clingerman's state Route 88 home last December. Investigators found 12 firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.

According to a grand jury indictment, the weapons consisted of shotguns, semi-automatic rifles and pistols, and revolvers. Flynn is not legally allowed to possess firearms due to previous felony convictions for domestic violence and aggravated assault, according to the indictment.

Pittman sentenced Flynn to 100 days in Portage County Jail and four years probation, the first year under intensive supervision, on Sept. 6.

Jacob Will, Clingerman's attorney, told Pittman during Clingerman's sentencing Friday that she is eligible for ILC. He said Clingerman, who is employed as a licensed practical nurse, is not likely to be a repeat offender.

"I believe intervention is appropriate. I believe my client can do it," he said.

Prosecutor Ray Srp opposed the ILC, pushing instead for probation so that the conviction would remain on Clingerman's record, as it will for Flynn.

"This isn't a typical gun case. This isn't one gun," he said, adding that Clingerman knew Flynn could not possess firearms, she gave him "free range to access all of those firearms" and there were children in the home.

Clingerman was apologetic.

"I want to continue to be a nurse," she told Pittman. "I love what I do and I admit my mistake."

Pittman said Clingerman had no previous felony convictions and an assessment determined ILC is appropriate for her.

"I believe in second chances," Pittman told Clingerman.

As conditions of the ILC, Pittman ordered that Clingerman undergo a mental health evaluation and follow all recommendations, not use illicit drugs or alcohol for one year and submit to random drug and alcohol screenings. She will be under the supervision of the court's adult probation department while in the ILC program.

Flynn pleaded guilty to six counts of third-degree felony weapons under disability. Each count included a firearm forfeiture specification. In a plea deal, six additional weapons under disability counts and a single count of first-degree misdemeanor endangering children were dismissed.

Clingerman previously pleaded guilty to six counts of fourth-degree felony unlawful transactions in firearms, all with firearm forfeiture specifications. Six additional similar counts and single counts of fifth-degree felony forgery and first-degree misdemeanor endangering children were dismissed in a plea deal.

Reporter Jeff Saunders can be reached at jsaunders@recordpub.com.

This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Ravenna Township woman's guilty plea in illegal gun case could be vacated, record cleared