Pair arrested after stolen AK-47 found inside stolen car

YOUNGSTOWN — Two were arrested late Sunday evening after police found a stolen AK-47 semiautomatic rifle inside a stolen car.

Reports said officers pulled over a car about 11:35 p.m. that was reported stolen at McGuffey Road and Berkley Avenue driven by Martin Stewart, 48, of Lake Drive.

Reports said officers looked inside the car and saw the barrel of a rifle sticking out of a bed sheet. A records check found the gun was stolen, reports said.

Stewart and a passenger, Franklin Fleming, 56, of Springdale Avenue, denied knowing the gun was in the car. Stewart said the car belonged to his ex-wife and he did not know it was reported stolen.

Both men were booked into the Mahoning County jail on charges of receiving stolen property, improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Fleming had an additional charge of possession of drug paraphernalia because a crack pipe was found within reach of him, reports said.