New lawyer appointed for man charged with arson deaths

March 14, 2008 at 8:18p.m.

YOUNGSTOWN — Judge R. Scott Krichbaum of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court has appointed Atty. Ronald Yarwood as the new co-counsel for Michael A. Davis, 18, of Bennington Avenue, who faces the death penalty in the Jan. 23 Stewart Avenue house fire that killed six people, including four children.

Davis is charged in a 29-count aggravated murder and aggravated arson indictment.

Yarwood replaces Martin E. Yavorcik, who withdrew as co-counsel Thursday because of his candidacy for county prosecutor. Atty. James S. Gentile continues as lead defense counsel. The jury trial remains set for Oct. 6.