Ex-Firefighter Gets 4 Years For Assault, Abduction

COLUMBUS, Ohio—A former Columbus firefighter was sentenced after he pleaded guilty to felonious assault and abduction charges in March.

It’s a case NBC 4 has been following since late 2007, and NBC 4 reported with an update Wednesday.

Andrew Conti was arrested and charged after Columbus police said he tried to get back at a man whom he thought burglarized his father’s home.

Conti, a 14-year veteran of Columbus fire, was arrested in January of 2008.

Conti allegedly held 44-year-old David Stropki against his will Dec. 30, 2007, according to a Columbus police report.

Once the victim was in Conti’s custody, he handcuffed, maced and hit the victim several times with a ball bat, according to the original warrant.

But police officials told NBC 4 back in January 2008 that Conti believed Stropki was involved in the burglary of his father’s home.

The original charges against Conti included kidnapping, felonious assault, abduction, intimidation of crime victims and possession of criminal tools.

Conti was arraigned and posted bond in January 2008.

Conti was taken off the streets and placed behind a desk during the police investigation.

Conti made a plea deal Friday, March 13, in Franklin County Common Pleas court.

Conti pleaded guilty to felonious assault and abduction charges. The other four charges were dismissed.

He was sentenced to four years at the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction for the assault and four years of post-prison probation for the abduction charge.

Conti retired from the division shortly before his plea deal. Columbus fire said the retirement meant there would not be an internal investigation to the incident.

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