CRIME Deputy sheriff on leave accused of stealing steaks

Kim Marciano, a sister of Chief Robert E. Bush, pleaded innocent at arraignment.
By PATRICIA MEADE
VINDICATOR CRIME REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- A Mahoning County deputy sheriff on medical leave who lives with a convicted felon is charged with stealing two steaks at Giant Eagle in Cornersburg.
Kim Marciano pleaded innocent at arraignment Thursday in municipal court. A pretrial is set for Aug. 18.
Marciano, 43, of Wampum Drive, was injured on duty Feb. 25 and placed on worker's compensation about three weeks ago, Sheriff Randall A. Wellington said Thursday. He said she had slipped on a wet floor in the jail and injured her knees and elbows.
He called the theft case "senseless."
Police were sent to the Giant Eagle on Canfield Road around 7:40 p.m. Wednesday. The officers were told that the store manager had detained Marciano and that she and her husband were causing a scene. The husband, who left before police arrived, turned out to be 28-year-old Larese Jones, a convicted felon.
What employee alleged
The manager told police that she had approached a man standing at the cigarette rack because cigarettes are a high theft item and can be easily concealed. The man, later identified as Jones, told the manager he was a police officer, as was his wife, and he didn't appreciate being stared at, reports show.
The manager said she had seen two packages of steaks sitting on top of Marciano's big green purse and approached the woman, asking for police identification. Marciano said she didn't have it.
The manager wondered how Marciano could not have identification in the big purse. Marciano then opened her purse and handed the steaks to the manager, reports show.
Police said an inspection of the purse also revealed other items that were not paid for, but it wasn't immediately clear what the items were. Value of the steaks and other items was listed as $13.35.
In April, Marciano became the subject of an Internal Affairs Investigation when it came to light that she violated sheriff's department policy by living with Jones, a convicted robber on probation. Wellington said a medical condition he could not disclose prevented Marciano from being disciplined. He said it's a moot point because she's off the payroll and on worker's compensation.
Marciano is a sister of Youngstown Police Chief Robert E. Bush Jr.
meade@vindy.com