Bookmaking charges

Bookmaking charges

YOUNGSTOWN — Four Trumbull County men have been charged in federal court with operating an illegal gambling business.

Those charged are: Robert P. Granny Sr., Summerberry Lane, Niles; Kenneth W. Watkins, 3814 Crestview Ave. S.E., Warren; James P. Zucco, South Butler Avenue, Niles; George J. Schinker, Catherine Avenue, Liberty.

The information filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Cleveland states that, from 2003 through January 2007, the defendants operated a sports bookmaking gambling business. An information means that the defendants waived their right to indictment by a grand jury and, in nearly all cases, reached a plea agreement with the government.

The case was investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Dean M. Valore, an assistant U.S. attorney. He confirmed Thursday that all the defendants reached plea agreements and are cooperating in the investigation.

Trial set in puppy death

YOUNGSTOWN — Trial is set for Sept. 3 in municipal court for the West Side woman whose German shepherd puppy died in June after choking in a tangled chain in sweltering heat.

The trial date was set Wednesday at a pretrial hearing in municipal court for Jody L. Seabolt, 48, of South Portland Avenue. She faces one count of animal cruelty and two counts of child endangering. The endangering charges relate to what Patrolman Sam Mosca described as squalid and unsafe conditions he found at Seabolt’s home June 9 when the temperature was in the low 90s. Neighbors who took the 8-month-old puppy to a veterinarian in an effort to save the animal said his temperature was 106 degrees. Normal temperature for a healthy dog can range from 99 to 102 degrees.

Neighbor deters thief

YOUNGSTOWN — The theft of a man’s 400-pound corn cooker on Julian Street on the South Side was thwarted by his neighbor who blocked the suspect’s truck from pulling out of the driveway, and told the would-be thief that police were on the way.

The corn cooker owner said when he and his neighbor confronted the suspect, the man was “sheepish” and rolled the heavy device back where it had been in the yard. Although the crime took place around 5:15 p.m. Wednesday, it wasn’t reported to police until around 10 p.m. The officer was given the suspect’s license number as well as the license number of a second suspect who apparently had shown up to help steal the corn cooker but left. The second suspect left when told police were on the way.

Man faces gun charges

LIBERTY — Kory Barthany, 28, of Tuttle Lane, will be back in Girard Municipal Court on Wednesday to face felony charges of illegally possessing a firearm and misdemeanor charges of drug abuse, carrying a concealed weapon and drug paraphernalia.

Police responding to the sound of gunshots in the wooded area near Vintage Village Trailer Park on Thursday morning found Barthany walking in the area. Asked if he had any weapons, reports say Barthany told officers he had two guns in his waistband.

Barthany told officers he had a fight with his wife and fired a shot in the air because he was frustrated. Barthany later told police he had been drinking, and police found a bag of suspected marijuana and a marijuana pipe in his pocket. Barthany is being held on $57,000 bond.

Witnesses report threat

YOUNGSTOWN — Intimidation of crime witnesses is what an East Auburndale mother and her teenage son believe is happening to them. Police who responded to a report of gunfire on East Auburndale Avenue at 10:45 p.m. Wednesday learned that roughly eight male juveniles showed up in the front yard of the South Side residence, and at least one began to call the family snitches. The suspect then pulled a revolver from his waist and fired one shot into the air, reports show. The group moved on.

The mother told police that she and her son have been subpoenaed to juvenile court to testify in a case that involves several juveniles charged with gun-related crimes. She said she believes the group that showed up, none of whom were identified, may be attempting to intimidate her family because of the case.