Man pleads innocent

Man pleads innocent
WARREN -- A 24-year-old Girard man has pleaded innocent to charges of murder, felonious assault and endangering children.
Bobby Lee Craven of Trumbull Avenue entered the pleas Thursday at his arraignment in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court.
Craven is being held in the county jail and is to return to court Oct. 25. His bond is set at $500,000.
In an indictment issued this week by a grand jury, Craven is accused of causing the death of his 20-month-old son, Brandon, on Sept. 19.
Authorities also say that Craven caused serious physical harm to Brandon on Sept. 17, and endangered the lives of Brandon and his 3-year-old brother, Robert, on Sept. 14.
Two women robbed
YOUNGSTOWN -- Two 42-year-old Boardman women told police they were robbed at gunpoint in a rear lot at St. Patrick Church on Oak Hill Avenue by a boy about 15 years old.
The woman said they were sitting in a car about 7 p.m. Thursday when the teen approached with a handgun and said they had five seconds to open the trunk or he would shoot, police reports show.
The passenger screamed and fled, while the driver opened the trunk, from which the robber took both women's purses.
The women said they had seen the robber walking nearby when they were putting the purses in the trunk.
The purses contained credit cards, driver licenses, checkbooks and medication and about $15 total cash.
Riders rob driver
YOUNGSTOWN -- A 77-year-old Lisbon man has reported to police that he was robbed by two women he had given a ride.
The man said he was driving at about 2 p.m. Monday when one woman threw a wet substance in his face and grabbed him as the other struck his head with a hard object.
They then fled with his wallet and keys. He was treated at St. Elizabeth Health Center. One woman is described as being about 23.
Trafficking charge
YOUNGSTOWN -- A 33-year-old city man faces charges of aggravated trafficking in cocaine and having drug paraphernalia after police found seven plastic bags containing crack cocaine and a scale in the Chevy Blazer he drove, reports show.
Police said the items were found after they pulled the man over at the intersection of Market Street and Avondale Avenue at about 6 p.m. Thursday and saw an open beer can in the truck's center console. Officers said they also found $345 in the man's pockets.
He also was cited for loud music, driving under suspension and having an open container.
Identity theft
YOUNGSTOWN -- A 34-year-old Campbell woman told police that someone stole her identity to obtain a Discover credit card and incur nearly $1,700 debt in her name. The woman said she received a summons Thursday to Youngstown Municipal Court and a copy of a lawsuit in which she is being sued by a credit card company.
The summons and lawsuit misspell the woman's name and list a wrong Youngstown address. She said she suspects someone had stolen her identity by using her Social Security number listed on her grocery store check cashing card and written on many of her checks.
Disorderly conduct
BOARDMAN -- Two 23-year-old New Castle, Pa., men were arrested in the parking lot of Salty Grogs on Boardman-Poland Road around 12:01 a.m. today on charges of disorderly conduct.
Police said they found a marijuana cigarette in the ash tray of their truck and two small bags of suspected marijuana -- one in the truck and one on one of the men.
Police took the Cunningham Avenue man to the Mahoning County Justice Center on charges of tampering with evidence, aggravated menacing and drug paraphernalia. Police said he threatened one of the officers.
The Morton Street man was arrested on a charge of disorderly conduct, booked and released.
Reported missing
AUSTINTOWN -- A Westchester Drive man who has not contacted his sister in two days was reported missing Thursday night.
Louis Markulin, 43, last spoke with his sister Tuesday night. The sister told police that Markulin said he was working late and would spend the night at a hotel. He works at County Wide Petroleum in North Royalton.
The sister said she and her family have since gone to Markulin's house, paged him, and called him -- but he has not responded. Markulin is white, 5 feet 10 inches tall, and weighs about 170 pounds. He has sandy blond hair and blue eyes.