CLEVELAND — The city of Cleveland has officially terminated a firefighter who pleaded guilty to multiple crimes back in March.
Peter A. Yachanin was originally arrested for rape and kidnapping in November of 2019, but months ago wound up accepting a deal for lesser misdemeanor charges of assault and unlawful restraint. He was subsequently sentenced to six months in jail, but was released after two and is currently on probation for the next year and a half.
A departmental disciplinary hearing was held for Yachanin back in May, and on Tuesday Cleveland Public Safety Director Karrie D. Howard informed Yachanin he had been fired. The director called Yachanin's actions "unbecoming of an employee of public service and a failure of good behavior," even if the more serious charges were dropped.
Yachanin, 36,had been with the Cleveland Division of Fire since 2014. He was on unpaid leave from the time of his arrest up until his firing.
Yachanin's dismissal comes on the same day that another Cleveland firefighter, Daniel Gonsor, pleaded guilty to sexually abusing two St. Edward High School teens. Gonsor was let go from his job as a part-time Eagles wrestling coach, but 3News has not yet been able to verify his official employment status with the fire department. He, too, had been on unpaid leave from the division since his arrest.
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