Youngstown man charged with theft by deception and forgery

Staff report

BOARDMAN

Desmond Clark, 32, of Youngstown appeared in court Tuesday for an arraignment on charges of receiving stolen property, forgery and theft by deception.

He is accused of persuading victims to cash checks for him that they later discovered were bad.

According to police reports, Clark approached victims in public places such as Southern Park Mall, claimed to not have an ID and asked them to cash checks for him.

Clark was charged with three counts of receiving stolen property and one of forgery, all felonies.

He also was charged with a misdemeanor charge of theft by deception.

Clark pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor charge. He is set to appear back in court Thursday for a pretrial hearing.

Bond was set at $15,000 for his felonies, and $1,500 for the misdemeanor.

Clark is in the Mahoning County jail.

He was arrested in similar incidents in July, when he was accused of stealing gas-station gift cards and then selling them to victims.

He is scheduled to appear in court for a pretrial hearing on those charges Tuesday.