A state prison term has been handed down against a Warren man who was charged with theft while working at the former Jefferson School building earlier this year.

James J. Walinski, 53, of Warren, was charged with theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property by City of Warren police back in May.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, police responded on March 21, to the Jefferson School construction site where the alleged victim said he was missing several items.

Police said “all the radiators were missing” from the first floor of the building and “the covers were replaced on the wall to look like they were still intact.”

There were also missing copper pipes of various lengths, at least two inches in diameter, according to the affidavit.

“The victim estimated the value of things that he could see were taken between $50,000 and $100,000,” according to the affidavit.

Police said Walinski admitted to the owner and to police that he took the items.

His attorney, Assistant Public Defender Mike Kitay, told the court that Walinski “realizes the gravity of what he’s done.”

He acknowledged his client has a lengthy record but noted that it dates to offenses in the 1980’s and the 2000’s and that he’s lived a “relatively law abiding life” since, noting this might be his opportunity to obtain drug and alcohol abuse help.

Kitay said the restitution in this case is “quite high” and asked for a mitigated range sentence to allow Walinski to stay in the county system to be able to work and pay off some of the restitution.

District Attorney Rob Greene said he doesn’t think Walinski and other thieves understand the effect their conduct has on their victims, noting that Walinski “needs to be held accountable for his actions.”

President Judge Maureen Skerda, who handed down the sentence, had Walinski read the victim impact statement before continuing.

Walinski told the court he became involved with drugs four years ago and “never had a problem like that” before, putting him “in way over my head.”

He said he wants to make things right with the victim, who he acknowledged has helped him.

Skerda noted that Walinski was paid $30,000 for a job that is not done and has imposed a “financial burden” on the owner, who was seeking to turn the building into a senior living home “that he can’t complete.”

She told him he might be in a place to address his drug issues but hasn’t done anything since April to address those issues, coming to court last week with marijuana, cocaine, adderall and methamphetamine in his system.

“Local time isn’t sufficient in this case,” she said.

Walinski was then sentenced to 21 to 84 months incarceration in state prison, $140,000 in restitution, $2,075 in fines and fees, a no contact order, credit for 32 days time served, submission of a DNA sample and priority for drug and alcohol treatment in the state system on a count of theft by unlawful taking. She ordered that he is not boot camp or recidivism risk reduction incentive eligible.

She noted that she imposed the maximum sentence on the tail due to the high restitution and the potential need for supervision to ensure that is paid.

Both Walinski and Krystin L. Goska, Corry, were to be sentenced last Friday but appeared in court intoxicated.

Skerda noted before court on Tuesday that Goska still tested positive for methamphetamine and amphetamines and ultimately continued her sentencing again because she did not “believe Ms. Goska is present.”