Guns confiscated in Newton Falls

By Ed Runyan

One of three young men arrested in the case has already been sentenced to six months in jail.

NEWTON FALLS — Police Chief John Kuivila says he believes the arrest of three Newton Falls High School students Wednesday probably averted retaliation gunfire from occurring in Warren.

Eight Newton Falls officers spent nine hours starting at 7 p.m. Wednesday tracking down leads to determine whether rumors were true that several Newton Falls teens were planning retaliation against Warren teens for firing gunshots into the East River Gardens neighborhood late Tuesday.

Police eventually arrested Timothy Bates II, 18, of Columbia Avenue; Derrin L. Lough, 18, of Mahoning Court; and a juvenile; and charged all three with stealing guns from Bates’ father.

Kuivila said police spared no effort to find the guns after hearing that they were going to be used to return fire on Warren teens believed to have fired at Lough’s house Tuesday.

Three of the four guns were recovered during the investigation, Kuivila said.

“Most importantly, the guns are off the street,” the chief said, adding that he thinks the department’s swift action probably prevented retaliation even though one gun has not been found.

Innocent pleas were entered for Bates and Lough Thursday morning in Newton Falls Municipal Court on charges of aggravated burglary and four counts of theft, all felonies.

Bates, whose bond is $20,000, returns to court at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday for a preliminary hearing.

Lough agreed to plead guilty to a reduced charge of misdemeanor theft, and Steve Maas, acting judge sitting in for Judge Phil Vigorito, sentenced Lough to six months in Trumbull County Jail and two years’ probation for the offense, court officials said.

Kuivila said police don’t know who fired gunshots from a location on Maple Drive around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, but the shots hit homes in East River Gardens, where Lough lives. No injuries were reported.

But the next day police received a report that the gunfire had come from Warren teens who had fired the shots in a “turf war” with teens from Newton Falls, Kuivila said.

The chief said he doesn’t think a shooting that took place Wednesday night on Scott Street in nearby Newton Township is related.

A Trumbull County Sheriff’s Department report said a 21-year-old Scott Street man was shot in the leg during a drive-by at his home at 9:05 p.m.

The report said the man was treated at Forum Health Trumbull Memorial Hospital for a minor injury.

The victim said a large, black sport utility vehicle with tinted windows went past the house with two gunshots being fired from inside.

runyan@vindy.com