Rape suspect jailed

Rape suspect jailed

WARREN — A-34-year-old Kinsman man indicted last week on three counts of rape is in the Trumbull County Jail in lieu of $150,000. Mark Armstrong of Main Street was arraigned Monday before Judge Peter Kontos of Trumbull County Common Pleas Court. Michael Burnett, an assistant county prosecutor, said Armstrong is charged with the rape of a boy under 13 in August 2007 in Kinsman. He faces life in prison if convicted. He is also accused of raping a boy under age 13 who is a relative in the summer 2004 in Niles.

Man burned fighting blaze

YOUNGSTOWN — A 31-year-old man was in stable condition Monday evening at St. Elizabeth Health Center after suffering burns while trying to extinguish flames at an East Side auto business.

Jesus Morales, no address available, and another employee at Quality Control Auto Body, Oak Street, were moving a gas tank from a van in the business Monday afternoon. The tank fell, spilling some of the gas, the fire department said. The business had a wood-burning stove and the gas caught fire. Morales suffered burns to about 8 percent of his body when he and the other employee tried to put out the flames. When they were unsuccessful, they called the fire department. Damage is estimated at $40,000.

Man pleads guilty to manslaughter charge

WARREN — A 29-year-old Warren man has pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of involuntary manslaughter. Judge Peter Kontos of Trumbull County Common Pleas Court accepted the plea Monday of Steven Brown. He ordered a pre-sentence report be completed on Brown, who had been indicted on a charge of murder. Brown pleaded guilty to the Aug. 23, 2007, shooting death of Johnny Williamson, 24, at Williamson’s home at 1535 N. Park Ave. Brown also pleaded guilty to a gun specification, tampering with evidence, aggravated burglary, aggravated robbery and being a convicted felon in possession of a weapon. Felons are not allowed to own firearms. After the shooting, Brown fled to Pennsylvania. He was apprehended at the Starlite Inn on South Hermitage Road, Hermitage, Pa., after police there spotted his car in the motel parking lot. Chris Becker, assistant county prosecutor, said Brown is facing 10 to 18 years in prison, but that sentence is contingent upon how much cooperation provides concerning other crimes.

Thieves cause house fire

COITSVILLE — Fire Chief Nick Pope Jr. said someone using a torch to remove copper from a vacant house at 3307 Upland Ave. (state Route 616) started a fire early Sunday. Pope said the call, about 5:30 a.m., first went to Struthers Fire Department because it was thought to be in its area; the house is located near the border of the two municipalities. Campbell Fire Department also offered mutual aid. The fire departments were on the scene about 1 1/2 hours.

Pope said the copper thieves left a garbage can filled with copper behind. He speculated the fire spread too fast for them to get the copper and leave. Pope said the older house was insured and sustained heavy damage. The owner is Charles Arendas of Poland.

Traffic stop yields pot

YOUNGSTOWN — More than four pounds of suspected marijuana was found during a traffic stop by the Ohio State Highway Patrol on East Midlothian Boulevard near Youngstown-Poland Road Sunday evening. The patrol said a police dog alerted on two jars in the back seat that contained 10.4 grams of suspected marijuana and also alerted on four pounds of suspected marijuana wrapped in heavy plastic inside a trash bag in the trunk. The driver, Christopher J. Petrus, 26, of Springfield Road, New Springfield was charged with possession of marijuana, drug abuse paraphernalia and driving under suspension. Petrus was arraigned today in municipal court and bond was set at $15,000, which he posted, the clerk of court’s office said. He will be back in court March 24.

Local celebrities to bag groceries for food bank

YOUNGSTOWN — Local celebrities will bag groceries to raise money for Second Harvest Food Bank’s Harvest for Hunger campaign from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Boardman Giant Eagle, 478 Boardman-Canfield Road.

On-air personalities from WFMJ Channel 21 and Cumulus Broadcasting will be bagging groceries. Customers may tear off a $1, $5 or $10 coupon at the register to benefit the food bank and have their groceries bagged by one of the celebrities. All funds raised will remain in the Mahoning Valley.

Scheduled to attend from Channel 21 are Scott Schneider, Laurie Lehoskey and Mark Monstrola. Scheduled to attend from Cumulus Broadcasting are Y-103’s Scott Kennedy, Lynn Davis and Wendy; HOT 101’s AC, Kelly and Brandy; K-105’s Doug and Mary Ann.

Each day, Second Harvest Food Bank distributes 20,000 pounds of food to 165 hunger relief organizations in Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull counties. These organizations include church pantries, soup kitchens, homeless shelters and shelters for battered women.