TRUMBULL COUNTY Judge orders house to be sold at auction

The owner did not contest the action, an assistant prosecutor said.
By AMANDA C. DAVIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- A Niles crack house that's been deemed a nuisance will go to the highest bidder.
On Wednesday, Judge John M. Stuard of Trumbull County Common Pleas Court ordered that the house at 223 South Cedar Street and its contents be auctioned, without appraisal, for cash. A date has not been set.
Christopher D. Becker, an assistant Trumbull County prosecutor, said the owner, D.J. Turner, 53, consented to the action.
Judge Stuard ordered that proceeds from the auction go to reimburse the Trumbull County Prosecutor's Office for costs it incurred getting the house deemed a nuisance. Any additional money will go to the county general fund.
Raid: Officers from the Niles Police narcotics unit, Trumbull County Drug Task Force and Youngstown office of the federal Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms raided the house recently and made arrests on charges of aggravated trafficking in crack cocaine.
Officers also raided the house twice late last year and arrested people on drug charges both times.
Authorities boarded it up last week after Judge Stuard called it "dangerous and harmful to the health and safety of the community" and a nuisance.
Becker cited felony offenses at the house from September 2001 through this month in court documents filed as part of the case.
Turner told ATF agents Nov. 16 that he let four or five people sell crack from his home to support his crack habit, according to the documents.
A Trumbull County grand jury indicted Turner last week on charges of permitting drug abuse, engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity and five counts of complicity to trafficking in crack cocaine.
A home at 806 Clay Street was also raided recently, and arrests were made. Authorities said the same clientele frequented both homes.
David Mask, 53, who owns the Clay Street house, was arrested on four counts of aggravated trafficking in cocaine.
davis@vindy.com