Survivor of fatal fire arrested on gun charge

YOUNGSTOWN — An 18-year-old man who survived a fire a year ago that claimed six of his family was in municipal court today for a preliminary hearing on a gun charge. Julius Crawford of Atkinson Avenue waived his right to the hearing on the charge of improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle and Judge Robert P. Milich bound the case over to a Mahoning County grand jury. Crawford was arrested Jan. 20 when police approached the driver of a car he was in for a parking violation on West Marion Avenue. Police found a loaded .32-caliber handgun under Crawford’s seat and a small amount of marijuana in his jacket pocket. He pleaded no contest Tuesday to the marijuana charge and was fined $50. On Jan. 23, 2008, four children perished in the fire at 1645 Stewart Ave, along with their mother and grandmother. Julius and his sister managed to escape the blaze deliberately set by 18-year-old Michael A. Davis. Davis is in prison for life.