Harvey pleads to six theft counts in plea deal

YOUNGSTOWN — A former car dealer could spend more than 11 years in prison and pay fines in excess of $35,000 after pleading guilty to multiple counts of theft.

Buddy Harvey, 42, of Berlin Center, was facing 63 counts in an alleged automobile dealing fraud scheme. They consisted of 43 theft counts, 15 title offenses, three records tampering counts and one count each of defrauding creditors and passing bad checks. All 63 counts are felonies.

Harvey appeared Tuesday before Judge John Durkin of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court, and agreed to a plea deal with prosecutors.

According to Robert E. Bush Jr., chief of the county prosecutor’s criminal division, Harvey pleaded guilty to six counts of theft and one count of defrauding creditors. He could spend up to 18 months in prison and pay a fine of up to $5,000 on each count.

Harvey also pleaded guilty to one count of passing bad checks. He could spend a year in prison and pay a fine of $2,500 on that charge.

Bush said the prosecutor’s office would stand silent on any sentencing. Harvey is to be sentenced by Judge Durkin on Oct. 29.

Read more in Wednesday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com