By ZEINAB NAJM
Times-Herald Newspapers
HEIGHTS — City Councilman Ray Muscat was sentenced to two months of non-reporting probation Aug. 13 by 19th District Court Judge Sam Salamey for a misdemeanor charge of entry without owner’s permission.
He also is required to pay $400 in fines and costs.
“I believe the sentencing was proper and I don’t think I did anything wrong except use bad judgment while trying to talk to someone that I thought was my friend,” Muscat said. “This is something that shouldn’t have happened to me. There is a reason that man is in federal prison.”
Also, Muscat said he felt the entire situation was a political stunt to remove him from office.
Muscat, 65, pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor charge as a result of a plea deal for a Dec. 8 altercation with neighbor Nicholas Diedo in which Muscat said “I put my foot in the door without permission.” Diedo then began punching Muscat.
Diedo spent two days in jail before being released on Dec. 10.
He faces federal arson charges after allegedly setting fire to the 315 North Strip Mall in Inkster Feb. 3. If convicted, he could face 20 years in federal prison.
(Zeinab Najm can be reached at [email protected])