Man pleads innocent to several drug charges

Man pleads innocent to several drug charges

WARREN — A Bazetta Township man is free on bond after pleading innocent Thursday in Warren Municipal Court to several drug charges.

Warren detectives were driving an unmarked car around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, investigating complaints of drug activity on Mason Street Northwest. They followed a vehicle leaving a known drug house to the parking lot of McDonald’s on Elm Road, according to a police report. The driver approached a person in a pickup truck and appeared to be conducting a drug transaction, the report said.

Officers approached the two men and found two small bags of suspected crack cocaine, marijuana, a pipe and $268 in cash inside the pickup truck with its driver, Michael A. Williams, 48, of Bazetta Road.

The 19-year-old man from the other vehicle had $900 in cash in his pocket, but nothing illegal was found in his vehicle. No charges were filed against him.

Police charged Williams with possession of crack cocaine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia. If convicted on the felony drug-possession charge, he faces up to a year in prison. He also faces misdemeanor charges of possessing marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Man sentenced in robbery of 86-year-old woman

LISBON — A man apologized many times but received a three-year prison sentence for robbing an elderly woman.

Judge David Tobin of Columbiana County Common Pleas Court imposed the sentence Friday on Brian K. Miller, 29, of Sugar Street, East Liverpool.

Margaret Marshall, 86, of East Liverpool, was walking in the parking lot of the East Liverpool Giant Eagle about 2:15 p.m. Feb. 25 when Miller grabbed her purse. She was thrown to the ground but not seriously injured.

A member of her family delivered a letter to the court stating she is still fearful of going out.

Miller eventually pleaded guilty to a charge of robbery. John Gamble, an assistant county prosecutor, said that in return for the plea, the state had agreed to a two-year sentence. Judge Tobin was not bound by the agreement.

Miller told the judge, “Man, I’m sorry for what I done.” He said he was using drugs during the robbery.