YOUNGSTOWN Grand jury to hear newspaper box case

The man has more court dates pending in Sebring, Campbell and Austintown.
By PATRICIA MEADE
VINDICATOR CRIME REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Charges are piling up at a Mahoning County grand jury against John J. Lysowski, who police say admitted stealing newspaper boxes.
The 35-year-old Poland man appeared in Youngstown Municipal Court on Friday and waived his right to a preliminary hearing on one count of felony tampering with a coin machine. Judge Elizabeth A. Kobly bound the case over to a grand jury and continued his $60,000 bond.
The judge set a trial date of Dec. 7 for three misdemeanor counts of theft.
In somewhat of an understatement, Lysowski told the judge: "I have cases pending in others courts and am trying to get them lumped together."
Also on Friday, Austintown police filed seven counts of tampering with a coin machine and seven counts of petty theft against Lysowski. He will be arraigned on the charges at 1 p.m. Monday in Austintown's county court.
Over several months: Police in several jurisdictions reported that Lysowski admitted he took the vending machines for the cash inside. Thefts of newspaper boxes, mostly belonging to The Vindicator, have occurred over the past several months.
Indictment: An indictment against Lysowski was handed up Oct. 11 by the county grand jury on two counts of felony theft generated by Boardman police. After his arraignment Oct. 4 in Boardman's county court, he was released on $8,000 bond.
Coitsville police arrested him last weekend and charged him with two counts of felony theft. His arraignment, which had been expected Friday, will take place Tuesday morning in Campbell Municipal Court.
The newspaper box thefts in Coitsville and elsewhere occurred while he was out on bond from Boardman.
Lysowski has a preliminary hearing in Sebring's county court at 3 p.m. Tuesday. The Mahoning County Sheriff's Department, for Canfield Township, filed two counts each of felony theft and receiving stolen property.
The case, which originated in Canfield's county court, was transferred to Sebring because of time constraints.
Alan Bowlby, Vindicator circulation director, said the newspaper has lost almost 100 boxes worth at total of $50,000 plus the $20 to $25 in each machine.
meade@vindy.com