YOUNGSTOWN Man who aided Koliser granted early release

The prosecutor's office did not oppose the early release since Rupp helped them.
By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR COURTHOUSE REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- A Boardman man who aided Martin L. Koliser Jr. in the hours after Koliser shot and killed a Youngstown police officer has been granted early release from prison.
Forrest A. Rupp Jr., 23, of Boardman was serving a three-year sentence for obstructing justice, to which he had pleaded guilty in June. His request for early release on shock probation was approved Thursday by Judge James C. Evans of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.
Prosecutor Paul Gains said part of the state's plea agreement with Rupp was that prosecutors would not oppose shock probation if Rupp cooperated in the case against Koliser.
Koliser was sentenced to death Nov. 7 for the ambush killing of Patrolman Michael Hartzell in the early hours of April 29. He also was sentenced to 13 years in prison for shooting Donell Rowe outside the Casaloma Gardens bar about two hours before Hartzell was shot.
"Mr. Rupp fulfilled his part of the bargain, and we keep our word," Gains said, explaining that his office did not oppose Rupp's early release.
Including time spent in the county jail, Rupp had been behind bars for six months, Gains said.
Trial testimony
Rupp testified during Koliser's trial that Koliser called him within hours of the shootings and asked for his help. Rupp said he picked up Koliser at the WRTA bus station downtown about six hours after Hartzell was shot. He drove Koliser to a friend's house, where Koliser took a shower and put on clean clothes.
Rupp said he put Koliser's muddy clothes in a trash bag, along with his driver's license, and threw them away.
Rupp then gave Koliser his car, which Koliser drove to Florida, where he was caught the next day.
Koliser called Rupp from Florida before he was captured and talked about shooting Rowe and Hartzell. Rupp, without Koliser's knowledge, tape-recorded the call and handed the tape over to police. Jurors in Koliser's trial heard the tape.
Rupp initially lied to police about his involvement with helping Koliser after the shootings, but he later confessed.
bjackson@vindy.com