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Man believed to be involved in theft of vehicles bound over to county grand jury

LISBON — A Cleveland area man believed involved in the theft of vehicles in a Perry Township car lot was bound over to the county grand jury on Thursday.

Timothy P. Sigler, 20, waived his right to a preliminary hearing in Columbiana County Municipal Court when he appeared in custody on charges of receiving stolen property and breaking and entering.

According to court documents, Perry Township patrolman Damin Beadnell spotted a vehicle running at the Value Motors, a car lot on West State Street, Salem, on Dec. 28. He then saw a man turn off the vehicle, get out and walk behind the dealership building. He then saw Sigler walking eastbound on West State Street in front of the dealership and he admitted to being a passenger in a vehicle, which was reported stolen and which was parked at the Value Motors lot.

Additionally, Sigler reportedly admitted as being the lookout for his friend who was breaking into the car dealership to steal the keys to vehicles.

In return for Sigler waiving his right to a preliminary hearing, Assistant County Prosecutor Don Humphrey Jr. agreed to reduce his bond from $25,000 cash or surety to $7,500 cash or surety. Humphrey asked the bond conditions to include that Sigler have no contact with Albert Bell, who is in Summit County and a possible co-defendant in the case. After the name raised eyebrows, Humphrey confirmed Bell is not the Albert Belle who once played for the Cleveland Indians.

In another matter in Judge Mark Frost’s courtroom on Thursday afternoon, Robert Wheaton III, 30, Stow, was sentenced to 180 days in jail with credit for five days served after he was unable to comply with orders to get help for his drug addiction. As part of his sentence in three separate cases, Wheaton had been ordered to get help at an inpatient facility or report to the county jail. He had gone to Alliance City Hospital to enter a detox program. However, according the probation department Wheaton did not comply with the regulations for the detox program, was kicked out, then reported to the jail late and failed his drug test on Thursday for several substances.

Humphrey asked Frost to impose further jail time for Wheaton, using several descriptive words to describe how Wheaton had “squandered” the opportunity he was given.

Frost explained to Wheaton he was not sending him to the jail because he was angry with him, but instead as a way to save his life. He reminded Wheaton there were family members there in the courtroom still rooting for him.

“You are an addict and you are not thinking rationally,” Frost said. “If you don’t stop, you are going to die.”

The charges he was sentenced for included drug paraphernalia and theft. A review hearing was set for Feb. 15.

johnson@mojonews.com

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