Prosecutors seek forfeiture of escapee's bail

YOUNGSTOWN -- Prosecutors asked a judge Friday to order the forfeit of bail paid by a man who has escaped house arrest.
Christopher Aczel, 33, of Beaver Township, paid the $25,000 needed to be released to house arrest on a $250,000 bond set last month by Judge Maureen A. Sweeney of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.
Aczel, however, later cut his electronic monitor, left the house at which he was staying and remains at large.
Prosecutors filed a motion saying his escape violates terms of the bond and asked Judge Sweeney to order the bail forfeited.
Aczel initially was held on $1 million bond. His lawyer argued Aczel wasn't a flight risk and should have had a more reasonable bond set, resulting in the lower bond and house arrest. Aczel faces 19 charges related to a two-county police chase in July and also faces unrelated drug charges.