Mayfair man gets prison for slashing tires

The nails and screws were dumped Monday from a black trash bag onto a courtroom table, and David Toledo lowered his face into his hands.

They were the weapons, prosecutors said, that Toledo used to vandalize his Mayfair neighbors' cars again and again - even while on probation for an identical crime spree.

Facing Common Pleas Court Judge Edward C. Wright for the second time in 14 months, Toledo cried. He apologized. Then, he asked to speak once more.

"Please don't send me to prison," Toledo said to the judge. "I'll do any program. Don't take me away from my wife. I'll get any help you want."

Too late, the judge said.

Toledo, 47, was sentenced to three to six years in prison for his repeated tire-slashing incidents. He faces eight years of probation.

Wright, who showed compassion in May 2014 with a sentence of two years of probation for similar crimes, was incredulous this time.

"You're holding the community hostage, Mr. Toledo," Wright said to the room. "The court cannot accept that."

Wright ordered a mental-health examination and anger management.

Less than six months after Toledo was given probation for slashing the tires of at least 12 cars, prosecutors said, he reprised his mischief. He glued nails and screws to mousetraps and set them near the tires of two cars parked on the 1600 block of Creston Street, where he lived in Oxford Circle.

The cars' owners later identified a photo of Toledo as the man they had seen near their cars at the time the traps were set. Police found jars of nails hidden in his ceiling and dresser. Toledo was arrested Nov. 21 and later pleaded guilty to charges of possessing an instrument of crime, criminal mischief, and harassment.

His wife, Yvonne, said she supported her husband but recognized a problem.

"Not to make light of it," she told the court Monday, "but the elevator isn't going to the top floor."

Assistant District Attorney Lauren McHale read letters of testimony from multiple residents. One neighbor, Pat Fritz, wrote that she refuses to drive down Creston, where her house is located. Another neighbor, Helen Dowling, said eight other homeowners on the block would not come to court for fear of retaliation by David Toledo.

Toledo's lawyer, Richard Fuschino, agreed that Toledo needed help and argued for a lesser sentence that included treatment.

McHale said the city has spent approximately $500,000 to investigate and prosecute Toledo over the years for what she called "childish antics."

"Mr. Toledo had one burden, and that was to stay out of trouble. To stay away from tires," McHale said. "How much simpler could it have been?"

Toledo, between tears, expressed remorse.

"I did it out of anger," Toledo said. "It was reacting without thinking what the consequences may be.

"I'm sorry. I'm truly sorry."

215-854-2928@MattGelb