Man linked to snakes surrenders to face stolen-vehicle charge

February 11, 2008 at 12:25a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN — Joseph Barker, 34, turned himself in to the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office late Sunday.

He is facing a charge of receiving stolen property filed in Mahoning County Area County Court in Austintown. The charge dating to October 2007 relates to a stolen vehicle.

Barker reportedly moved from a house at 36 N. Lakeview Ave. last November. Authorities last week found a 14 1/2-foot Burmese python and a 3-foot boa constrictor at the house. The snakes are to be transferred to a zoo. Further information on Barker was not available.