Child endangering
Child endangering
YOUNGSTOWN -- When found, Patricia Burns will face six counts of child endangering in Mahoning County juvenile court, said Maj. Michael Budd at the Mahoning County Sheriff's Department. Burns, 33, of 2032 Elm St., has not been located at the house since last week when city police found deplorable living conditions, Budd said. Six children in the house, which police said was filled with human and animal feces, were turned over to Burns' mother.
Arrested in theft
CANFIELD -- Eugene Ford, 48, of Chicago Avenue, Youngstown, is accused of using slugs to get into Vindicator boxes, then stealing newspapers. Mahoning County Sheriff's Department detectives arrested Ford at his home on charges of theft and tampering with coin machines. Ford was seen removing several newspapers from a box near Starr's Center Drive and Tippecanoe Road, reports show. Appearing before Judge Scott Hunter, Ford pleaded innocent to both charges Wednesday evening in Mahoning County court, where his trial will be at 6 p.m. May 7. Ford is free on bond.
Robbed at gunpoint
BOARDMAN -- A 58-year-old township man told police he was robbed at gunpoint Wednesday night in front of his Clifton Drive home. Police said the robber took $2 cash, a Social Security card and a bank card.
Murder trial
YOUNGSTOWN -- Prosecutors rested Wednesday in the Mahoning County Common Pleas Court trial of William Vaughn, charged with aggravated murder and aggravated robbery.
The trial was to continue today in the courtroom of Judge Maureen A. Cronin.
Authorities say Vaughn, 22, of Berwick Avenue, shot Justin Treasic, 21, of Logan Avenue, in the head during a drug deal Feb. 21, 2002. Treasic died the next day. Wednesday's witnesses included Gracie Tubbs of Youngstown, Vaughn's former girlfriend. She testified she overheard a conversation between Vaughn and his cousin, Freddie Lewis, about the killing. Lewis, 20, of Tacoma Avenue, was convicted last week of charges similar to Vaughn's and faces 36 years to life in prison.
Theft from landscaper
CANFIELD -- A storage unit rented by Final Phase Landscape at 5216 Western Reserve Road (Canfield Industrial Park) was broken into, according to the Mahoning County Sheriff's Department. Among missing items are weed cutters, blowers, an all-terrain vehicle, tools, hydraulic jack and a lawnmower.
Prostitution charges
YOUNGSTOWN -- Kenneth C. Shaffer Sr., 77, of Williamsburg Drive, Canfield, was arrested by vice cops Wednesday afternoon on the South Side. The officers said they saw Shaffer driving slowly several times past Misty Davis, 22, of Granite Avenue, who was flagging down cars. Davis got into Shaffer's car, which then headed east on Myrtle Avenue and west on Garfield Avenue. Officers pulled the car over on Garfield and issued citations charging both with loitering to engage in prostitution.
Wrong plates, DUS
YOUNGSTOWN -- Daniel J. Jacobson of Gypsy Lane told police that he "paid to rent the plates off some girl" for his pickup truck. Jacobson, 31, was stopped Wednesday on Steel Street after police received a report that someone was removing property from a building in the 600 block. Aside from having the wrong plates, Jacobson was driving under suspension, police said. He was issued a citation for the wrong plates and DUS. The pickup's bed, filled with aluminum siding, a stove and pieces of metal, was impounded.
Thief gets tools
AUSTINTOWN -- Police are investigating a report that a man lied about working in construction so he could steal about $2,700 worth of tools from Power Tool and Supply on LeHarps Road.
A Power Tool and Supply employee told police that the man called in December and January, said he was worked for two construction companies, and asked to buy tools.
The man signed invoices for the tools when he picked them up at the business. The business later learned that the man did not work for the companies.
Temporary clerk
POLAND -- Township trustees selected Joseph Granitto to serve as clerk through March 31 after clerk Cathy Stacy stepped down effective Jan. 31.
Granitto, 65, of Ida Drive, has been a township resident 29 years. Stacy withdrew from the position after an opinion by the Ohio Ethics Commission and county prosecutor's office that said it was unlawful for her to simultaneously hold the elected position and an hourly position as police secretary.
Stacy has said she will take legal action to contest the interpretation. She is still the police secretary.