Wednesday, March 20, 2002
Teen pleads no contestto trespassing charge
WARREN -- Howland High School's homecoming king has entered a no-contest plea to a charge of criminal trespassing.
Judge Terry Ivanchak of municipal court referred Sean Unger, 18, to the court's diversion program. If Unger, a senior, does not get into any criminal trouble in the next two months, the charge will be dismissed.
Prosecutors said Unger drove his friend to John F. Kennedy High School in November, where the friend assaulted a JFK freshman football player.
Enters innocent plea
WARREN -- A 41-year-old Wallace Street man says he didn't illegally install cable TV for city residents.
Darnel Cokerham pleaded innocent Tuesday in municipal court to a charge of unauthorized use of property. He is free on a $1,500 bond.
Sgt. Al Bansky said Cokerham was illegally installing cable, but he was unsure of the exact number of households. He said Cokerham got $5 to $15 for each installation.
Cokerham is scheduled to return to court next month.
Boy finds rattlesnakein basement of house
BAZETTA -- Township police say a 13-year-old boy captured a 10-inch rattlesnake in the basement of his grandmother's Bazetta Road home about 5 p.m. Tuesday.
Chief Robert Jacola said Patrol Officer Joe Sofchek took the snake and was to turn it over to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources today.
Police said rattlesnakes are not uncommon in the wild in this area.
Warren man jailed
YOUNGSTOWN -- A Warren man was in Mahoning County Jail this morning awaiting pickup by Pennsylvania officials on charges that he raped a woman in Meadville, Pa.
Michael J. Grantz, 25, of Draper Street, waived extradition Tuesday. He was arrested here Monday by Mahoning County deputies.
Meadville police say Grantz is accused of raping a 19-year-old woman he knows Oct. 18.
Student workers
CANFIELD -- Construction contractors needing trained workers are invited to tour Mahoning County Career and Technical Center, 7300 N. Palmyra Road, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday.
Contractors will be able to tour the vocational school's construction facilities and meet the top students as they build a home inside their work area.
Students are trained in all phases of carpentry, roofing, siding and window and door installation.
Information will be available about summer work agreements and training allowances.
Plea in stabbing case
AUSTINTOWN -- A North Navarre Avenue man has pleaded innocent in a stabbing Saturday.
Todd Grate, 19, is charged with obstruction of justice, resisting arrest and assault. A pretrial hearing has been scheduled for April 8 in Mahoning County Court.
Grate told police he hit Michael Grate Jr., 26, with a pool cue Saturday during a fight, but doctors said his injuries were caused by a knife or other sharp object.
Police were not immediately sure if the men are related. Michael was in stable condition in St. Elizabeth Health Center.
Motorcycle patrol
LAKE MILTON -- The township's first police motorcycle was to begin patrols today.
The motorcycle and equipment is on loan at not cost to the police department for a year from Youngstown Harley-Davidson/Buell. Jim's Party Shop of Lake Milton also donated money to help pay the cost.
Facing 3 theft counts
LAKE MILTON -- Milton Township police have charged a 39-year-old Northeast River Road man with three counts of theft in a home burglary
Police reports say the man was entrusted with keeping tabs on the home while the owner was away and instead stole more than $6,000 worth of guns, tools and antiques.
Police say the man told them he stole the items to support his drug habit. He faces arraignment Thursday.