DNA leads to recent convictions in old crimes

Staff report

North Lima

DNA is credited with the recent arrests of two men charged with old crimes.

Beaver Township police charged Billie H. Gray Jr., 43, of Jefferson Street, Youngstown, last month with attempted breaking and entering.

The crime occurred on April 11, 2008, at Generator Specialist, Woodworth Road.

A police report says that Gray was a suspect in the crime, but he was arrested after his DNA matched blood found at the scene.

Last January, police arrested James H. Crawford, 36, of New Waterford, charging him with breaking and entering in the 2004 break-in at Lake Front Restaurant, South Avenue. That arrest came after Crawford’s DNA matched blood found at the scene.

Last week, Crawford was charged with breaking and entering for a 2007 break in at the same restaurant.

He pleaded no contest last week to both charges and was convicted in Mahoning County Court in Canfield to amended charges of attempted breaking and entering.

He was placed on two years’ probation and ordered to make restitution to the restaurant’s owner.

Gray pleaded no contest and was convicted last month in Mahoning County Court in Canfield. He was sentenced to 40 days behind bars and placed on a year’s probation, court records show.