Special prosecutor sought in Youngstown cop case

YOUNGSTOWN — The chief of the criminal division of the Mahoning County Prosecutor’s Office is asking Judge James C. Evans of the county’s common pleas court to appoint a special prosecutor to handle the case of Detective Sgt. Robert Lodwick of the city police department, who faces felony charges of importuning — soliciting someone to engage in sexual conduct — and illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material.

Rebecca Doherty is asking Judge Evans to appoint Angela Canepa, a Columbus-based assistant Ohio attorney general, to prosecute the case because Lodwick has investigations pending with the county prosecutor’s office.

The charges pertain to a 14-year-old girl Lodwick came into contact with during an investigation. Lodwick is on unpaid administrative leave and in the county jail.