Robbery indictments

Robbery indictments
LISBON -- Two more people have been indicted in an unsuccessful robbery of the Bruster's Ice Cream in Salem on Oct. 1, 2006. Alisha Kaufman, 21, and Shawn Mitchell, 21, were taken into custody after being indicted on charges of complicity to aggravated robbery and conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery.
The indictments did not list a home address for either person.
Michael F. Lewis, 23, of West Pershing Street, Salem, was arrested earlier after being indicted on a charge of aggravated robbery and a charge of conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery.
Authorities have said that a man tried to rob the stand with a toy gun but ran off empty-handed after scuffling with a male employee.
Man robbed in car
WARREN -- A 24-year-old Warren man was robbed of 295 while in his car with his 1-year-old son in the back seat. The man told police he had stopped for a stop sign at North Park and Belmont avenues about 6:30 p.m. Tuesday when a woman got into the passenger side of his vehicle and indicated she had a weapon.
"Give me all your money and drive," the robber told him. His son was in a restraint in the back seat. He told the thief not to harm his son and handed over the cash. He told police he was ordered to stop on Freeman Street near North Street, where the woman got out and fled between houses.
Officials OK new fund
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Lawrence County commissioners voted to create an operating reserve fund using 1.5 million of the county's 2006 surplus. The new fund would be used for various expenses including emergencies involving the health, safety and general welfare of county residents. The money could also be used to counterbalance potential budget deficits, and to provide funds to expand programs or establish new ones.
In other business Tuesday, commissioners adopted a proclamation honoring Ellwood City Police Officer William Betz, who is retiring this year.
Church festival ends
CHAMPION -- One of the first festivals of summer in Trumbull County, the St. William Church festival, will be no longer. The church's pastor, the Rev. Mike Smar, announced to the congregation last weekend that the festival, started just after the parish was established in 1963, had been held for the last time.
The festival was held on the church grounds in early June each year and featured food, rides, kids games and games of chance. Father Smar said a festival committee decided to end the event at a recent meeting. The committee said the festival brought in varying amounts of profit over the years but had hit a profit ceiling in recent years, he said.
Another consideration was the increasing difficulty in finding volunteers, including a chairman, Father Smar said.
Meeting postponed
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- New Castle Area School Board postponed its regular Wednesday meeting because of the weather. An alternative date will be announced later this week.
Ohio high court ruling
COLUMBUS -- Failure of a defendant to respond in a reasonable time to prosecution requests stops the defendant's speedy-trial clock, the Ohio Supreme Court announced Wednesday. The decision stems from a 2004 Portage County case in which Eric Palmer was arrested and later convicted in the aggravated burglary of a Portage County home.
Before the trial, prosecutors filed for discovery of defense witnesses. A delay in providing the information to prosecutors extended the trial start date past the 90 days allowed to guarantee an incarcerated person a speedy trial.
The 11th District Court of Appeals, based in Warren, had overturned the conviction and sentence and said prosecutors should have brought the matter to the court before the speedy-trial clock ran out. The Ohio Supreme Court reinstated Palmer's sentence.
According to the decision, discovery is to be provided upon written request. "The rule does not grant discretion to a party to ignore a request of an opposing party until a court orders compliance," it states.