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Shop co-owner to plead in drug case
LISBON
The co-owner of coffee shops in Youngstown and Salem is scheduled to enter a plea at a 10:30 a.m. Wednesday hearing in a drug possession case.
Peter M. Lynch, 53, of Salem, is scheduled to appear before Judge Scott A. Washam of Columbiana County Common Pleas Court.
Lynch was indicted at the third-degree felony level, which carries a fine of up to $10,000 and up to a three-year prison term.
His lawyer, C. Bruce Williams of Salem, declined to comment on what charge Lynch is expected to actually plead to on Wednesday.
Lynch’s wife, Patricia Tinkler, 51, is scheduled for a 10 a.m. Oct. 9 hearing before the same judge on her motion for drug treatment in lieu of conviction.
The couple owns Friends Roastery in Salem, which they opened 101/2 years ago, and Friends Specialty in Youngstown, which they opened last December. They are free on their own recognizance.
The Columbiana County Drug Task Force said it executed a search warrant last Oct. 1 at the couple’s Summit Street home in Salem and found about 5 pounds of marijuana, drug paraphernalia and a pistol in their home and garage after a yearlong investigation.
The couple, who were secretly indicted in January, had been scheduled for a jury trial Monday.
“They’re good, honest business people. They’re not charged with trafficking in drugs,” Williams said.
“There’s no evidence of any trafficking whatsoever,” Williams said, adding “They’re very well-liked by the community.”
Neither Lynch, nor Tink-ler, has any prior criminal record, Williams said.
For their Youngstown business, Lynch and Tink-ler applied last fall to participate in Youngstown’s building facade improvement program.
Their plans were approved by the city’s design review committee, but they withdrew their application before it would have gone before the board of control for approval, said Tom DeAngelo, the city’s economic development coordinator.
“They didn’t get any funding whatsoever,” DeAngelo said, adding that he did not know how much money they applied for.
Had the BOC approved their application, the couple would have had to pay for and complete the work, with the city reimbursing them for 40 percent of the cost.
The city’s contribution would have been capped at $20,000, DeAngelo said.
Officials of the Columbiana County prosecutor’s office and drug task force did not respond to requests for comment.