Former bar owner pleads guilty to drug-related charges

YOUNGSTOWN — A former bar owner now convicted of multiple drug-related charges will likely spend more than four years behind bars.

John Messer, owner of the former Riverbend Tavern, reached a plea agreement with prosecutors on 17 counts of drug trafficking and one count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, all pertaining to events reported to have occurred last year at the Poland Avenue tavern.

The plea agreement was heard today by Judge R. Scott Krichbaum of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.

The terms of the agreement call for prosecutors to drop the one count of engaging in a corrupt pattern of activity. Messer, 58, in turn, pleaded guilty to the remaining charges.

For the complete story, see Friday's Vindicator and Vindy.com