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Man who repossesses cars has suspended license
By Joe Gorman
YOUNGSTOWN
A man who told a judge Monday in municipal court that he makes a living repossessing vehicles has at least six open suspensions on his license.
Frank Emerson, 38, of Valerie Drive, was arraigned on charges of theft and driving under suspension via video hookup from the Mahoning County jail. Visiting Judge Dino Prassinos set his bond at 10 percent of $15,000.
Emerson was arrested about 2:10 p.m. Friday at Salt Springs Road and Leo Avenue towing a 1992 model car from a church on Elm Street. Reports said officers were told to be on the lookout for the car, which reports said had been removed from an Elm Street church without permission.
When officers found the car and Emerson, Emerson told them he had permission to tow the car but he had no paperwork with him to prove it. A records check showed that he has at least six open suspensions on his license.
A person from the church who was following Emerson also told police he did not have permission to tow the car, reports said.
A check of common pleas and municipal court records shows arrests for Emerson stretching back to at least 1994, and several of those for driving under suspension and having no license, including from Austintown and Boardman.
Emerson told Judge Prassinos he did not need a court-appointed lawyer and would be hiring his own counsel. When asked if he had a job, he said he was in “auto recovery.” He clarified it to repossessing cars when Judge Prassinos asked him to make clearer what he did.
Emerson asked for a low bond, saying he has six children and has lived in Youngstown his entire life. At one point, Judge Prassinos agreed to release him on his recognizance, but assistant city Prosecutor Kathy Thompson objected, saying that some sort of bond is necessary because of Emerson’s lengthy criminal record.
Judge Prassinos said that bond is not to be a punitive measure but something to ensure a defendant appears in court, and he said judging from Emerson’s record he has a good record of appearing in court.
Thompson asked for a $15,000 bond and Judge Prassinos agreed to that amount, but requiring Emerson to post only 10 percent of that amount.