Judge Patricia Poehler

Judge Patricia T. Poehler

(Don Treeger)

SPRINGFIELD - Jordan "O.J." Hill dodged a felony conviction Wednesday, but not a lecture from Judge Patricia Poehler.

"It's time to grow up," she told the 19-year-old Pittsfield defendant after learning he and his girlfriend are expecting a child.

"If you don't change, your child will be standing here 20 years from now; your child will be looking to you" as a role model, she added.

Poehler's prediction came during a probation violation hearing for Hill, who was arrested in March and charged with domestic assault and battery for allegedly trying to strangle his roommate's girlfriend in Pittsfield.

At the time, Hill was on probation in a larceny case in Springfield District Court for allegedly breaking into his friend's house, stealing his Sony Playstation III and selling it to a pawn shop.

In addition to picking up new charge last month, Hill has failed to pay $550 in probation-related fees, despite having a year to come up with the money, Probation Officer Elizabeth Marshall said.

Marshall, noting that Hill has a three-page criminal record, recommended a guilty finding in the larceny case, which was continued without a finding on condition that Hill avoids further legal trouble.

She also recommended anger management classes for Hill.

Defense lawyer Anna Levine agreed with the anger management suggestion, but asked the judge to extend Hill's probation for another year, rather than imposing a guilty finding.

Having a felony conviction on his record would hurt Hill's work and educational prospects, especially at a time when he and his girlfriend are expecting a child, Levine said.

She attributed the unpaid fees to "miscommunication" between Hill and state probation officials following his move from Springfield to Pittsfield.

As for the Pittsfield assault case, the facts are "strongly disputed" and several witnesses are prepared to challenge the victim's account, Levine said.

Poehler agreed to extend Hill's probation for one more year on condition that he pays his probation fine by June 23 and either gets a job or enrolls in school. She also took personal jurisdiction over the case.

"This is the last break you get," she told Hill. "If you don't get it done, you'll be sitting in jail."