Thursday, June 6, 2002
Several area residents appeared in Mahoning County Court in Austintown this week. They included:
A Youngstown man accused of running from Santisi's IGA on Mahoning Avenue with several stolen steaks under his coat. David Brown, 32, of Cool Street, pleaded innocent to a petty theft charge at an arraignment Thursday morning. Judge David D'Apolito set bond at $1,250 and scheduled a pretrial hearing for June 24. The owner of Santisi's IGA told police he watched Brown run out of the store with the steaks at about 7 p.m. Wednesday. Brown reportedly ran toward a nearby motel, where he was later found by police. The steaks were in a motel room shower.
A North Roanoke Avenue, Austintown, man facing a felony DUI charge. Harry Ferranti, 46, appeared in court Monday to hear the charge. No plea was accepted, and a pretrial hearing was set for June 20. Ferranti also posted a $2,500 bond Wednesday. Police said they watched Ferranti's black pickup go left of center in the 4400 block of Fitzgerald Avenue at about 2:45 a.m. Saturday. He had a blood-alcohol content level of 0.183 and a suspended license, according to reports. It was Ferranti's fourth DUI arrest in the last six years.
A Liberty man accused of stealing 44 cases of soda from gas stations May 13 and 14. Michael Miller, 38, who lists his residence as the Super 8 motel on Belmont Avenue, was ordered Monday by Judge D'Apolito to pay retailers $858 for the soda. He also was sentenced to 180 days in jail, with 96 days suspended, and fined $100. Miller pleaded guilty to two counts of petty theft. Police said he removed the soda cases from outside of gas stations, placed them in his car and drove away.
A Liberty man accused of leading police on a chase in February. Rodney Armour, 25, of Logan Gate Road was sentenced by Judge D'Apolito on Monday to 180 days in jail, with 150 days suspended. He also was ordered to pay a total of $150 in fines. Armour pleaded guilty to two traffic violations and driving under suspension. The charges were reduced from failure to comply and resisting arrest as a result of his plea. Reports state that Armour committed a traffic violation on Westchester Drive at about 11 p.m. Feb. 4. Police, however, didn't catch up with Armour until he had driven on state Route 11 and Interstate 680. Armour then gave police a 10-digit Social Security number (Social Security numbers have nine digits) and said he was "out of here" before driving away. He eventually stopped on Vestal Road in Youngstown, got out of his car and ran. When he got to Riblett Road, police ordered him to the ground, and he complied.
An East Liverpool man accused of having drugs and a handgun in his car when he was pulled over in March on a traffic stop. James L. Green, 53, was ordered by Judge D'Apolito on Monday to pay a total of $100 in fines and court costs. Green's license also was suspended for 180 days. He had pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of drug abuse, which was reduced from a felony drug abuse charge as a result of his plea. A charge of possessing a firearm also was dismissed. Police said they found a Percocet pill, suspected marijuana and a loaded .25-caliber semiautomatic handgun in Green's car on March 7 when he was pulled over on Mahoning Avenue.
A Youngstown woman accused of struggling with a Mahoning County deputy sheriff in February in the parking lot of Jackson-Milton High School. Shelly Conger, 35, of North Dunlap Street, was ordered by Judge D'Apolito on Monday to pay $150 in fines and court costs. She had pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct, which was reduced from resisting arrest as a result of her plea. Charges of obstructing official business and criminal trespassing were dismissed. Reports state that Conger and a friend were waiting for the friend's husband Feb. 14 in the school parking lot when the deputy asked them to leave. Conger, who was holding a 2-year-old boy, responded by swearing at and pushing the deputy, the deputy said.