YOUNGSTOWN Drug charge dropped after murder conviction

YOUNGSTOWN -- Prosecutors dropped a drug charge against a Boardman man already imprisoned for murder and robbery.
Michael Hogan, 38, of Boardman, was awaiting trial in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court for one count of cocaine possession, a fifth-degree felony, for which he was indicted in March 2002.
Boardman police found suspected crack cocaine in one of Hogan's coat pockets and suspected crack cocaine residue in four small plastic bags on the floor of his car.
The suspected drugs were found after police stopped Hogan for a traffic violation on Southern Boulevard near Indianola Road.
In late October, Hogan was convicted of unrelated charges of murder and aggravated robbery, for which he was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.
Ran over a man
Authorities said Hogan was the driver of a car that ran over and killed 71-year-old John K. Ruble Sr. of Struthers at a recycling site in Boardman in May 2002. Ruble was trying to get back his wife's purse, which had just been snatched by Hogan.
According to court documents filed by Jeffrey Limbian, an assistant county prosecutor, the drug charge was dropped "in the interest of judicial economy" since Hogan already is serving such a long prison term for the other charges.
Hogan was out on bond for the cocaine charge when the murder occurred.