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LISBON -- Michael Blower is claiming insanity in the aggravated murder case against him related to the March 3 shooting death of Rusty Steele in Lisbon.
Blower, 31, Newgarden Avenue, Salem, appeared via video for arraignment before Judge Scott Washam in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court for charges of aggravated murder and murder, both with firearms specifications, pleading not guilty.
Also on Thursday, his defense attorney Louis DeFabio submitted a written plea of not guilty by reason of insanity for the unclassified felony charges.
A pretrial is set at 3:15 p.m. May 15 before Judge Megan Bickerton, who has been assigned to hear the case.
Blower remains in custody at the county jail under a $1.5 million bond.
The indictment alleges that Blower "did purposely, and with prior calculation and design, cause the death of another (Rusty J. Steele)," with the charge being aggravated murder. For the murder charge, the indictment says Blower "did purposely cause the death of another (Rusty J. Steele)."
Steele, 40, resided on Harvey Avenue, Lisbon at the time of his death.
County Prosecutor Vito Abruzzino said Blower could face a possible sentence of life in prison without parole if convicted of the aggravated murder charge.
At 10:32 p.m. March 3, Lisbon police officers were called for a shooting on West Spruce Street where they found Steele facedown in the street with a gunshot wound to the chest. He died at the scene and through their investigation, contact was made with Blower, who turned himself in March 4 and allegedly confessed to shooting Steele. An affidavit filed in the case against Blower says he and Steele had been arguing by phone all evening. Steele had children with Blower's wife. The night of the shooting, Steele was at his girlfriend's home on West Spruce Street, Lisbon.
According to Lisbon Police Chief Mike Abraham, officers "learned Mr. Steele was lured out of the house when someone knocked on the door and said their car broke down and wanted to know if he could give them a jump."
The victim did not know the person but went out to his own vehicle, a Cadillac SUV, and started it up. That's when he was allegedly approached by Blower, who shot him while he was still seated in the vehicle. The victim managed to exit the vehicle and fell in the street.
mgreier@mojonews.com