BY ADAM WEINTRAUB
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Sylvia Stayton faces 90 days in jail for putting 15 cents in Corryville parking meters Oct. 24 while a police officer tried to write tickets.

After less than an hour of deliberation Thursday, a four-man-four-woman jury found Mrs. Stayton guilty of obstructing official business, a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail and a $750 fine. She was acquitted of disorderly conduct.

But the 63-year-old grandmother of 10 said she'd face her peers again.

''I could have pleaded (guilty), but I didn't think it was the right thing to do,'' Mrs. Stayton said outside Hamilton County Municipal Court Judge John Andrew West's courtroom.

Defense attorney David Scacchetti said prosecutors offered to let her plead guilty to re-metering and pay a small fine, but she decided to stand on principle and face a jury.

Judge West delayed sentencing until Feb. 21.

''This is a lot of tears over 15 cents,'' daughter Becky Pickens said after a long hug with her sister, Laurie Stayton.

Ernest McAdams Jr., chief assistant city prosecutor, said he thought a fine would be an appropriate penalty for Mrs. Stayton, who had never been arrested before the parking meter incident, which attracted nationwide attention.

Mrs. Stayton was arrested Oct. 24 in the 2700 block of Vine Street, in the Short Vine business district.

Prosecutors said her intent was to stop Cincinnati Police Officer Edward Johnson from carrying out his parking enforcement duties, and her crime was in not stopping when Officer Johnson told her to. Mrs. Stayton contends Officer Johnson never told her not to feed the meters, and said he lied on the witness stand.

''In my heart, I wish we could have worked this out a different way,'' Mr. McAdams said.

Mrs. Stayton said she had not yet decided whether to appeal.

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