Grand jury gets chop shop case

YOUNGSTOWN —  Criminal charges against a Shehy Street man accused of running a chop shop in a Market Street building have been bound over to the Mahoning County grand jury.

Roosevelt Lewis, 74, appeared in municipal court before Judge Robert P. Milich Wednesday just long enough to waive his right to a preliminary hearing on 17 felony counts of receiving stolen property. Lewis was arrested in May after police found stolen vehicles and parts of stolen vehicles in what appeared to be a vacant business at 2007 Market St.

There was a minor fire at the building May 6 which led to an investigation that showed the building, rented by Lewis for about a decade, was being used as a chop shop, authorities said.

Lewis was originally charged with 14 counts of receiving stolen property, but the city prosecutor’s office said three additional counts were added after further investigation turned up more stolen vehicle parts. Lewis remains free on his own recognizance pending further court action.