LISBON — A trial date of Sept. 18 was set recently for a Washingtonville man accused of driving a murder suspect to and from the scene of a fatal Lisbon shooting on March 3.

Christopher J. Mills, 42, Washington Street, appeared for a scheduling conference Monday in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court before Judge Scott Washam.

Besides setting the date for the jury trial, two status conferences were also scheduled for 1 pm. Aug. 4 and 11 a.m. Sept. 7. His bond remains $50,000 cash or surety. Mills’ defense attorney was listed as D. Coleman Bond.

Mills allegedly provided transportation to Michael Blower, 31, Newgarden Avenue, Salem, who’s charged with aggravated murder and murder, both with firearms specifications, in the shooting death of Rusty Steele, 40, of Lisbon. The shooting occurred on West Spruce Street.

Lisbon Police Chief Mike Abraham said previously that Steele was lured out of his girlfriend’s house by a stranger who said he was having car trouble and needed help. When Steele went outside to start his vehicle for a jump, he was shot in the chest, allegedly by Blower who Abraham said confessed.

The affidavit filed in the case in county Municipal Court against Mills said, “Through the investigation, it was learned that Christopher Mills provided Blower with transportation to and from the murder scene and was aware that Blower had shot Steele when he provided the transportation. Mills later admitted to providing transportation to Blower. Video surveillance confirms that Mills was transporting Blower to the area of East Palestine an hour after the murder, while law enforcement was out looking for Blower. Christopher Mills never reported the crime or incident to law enforcement. Officers only learned of Mills’ involvement through witnesses.”

No trial date has been set in the case against Blower, who’s being evaluation for competency and sanity.

mgreier@mojonews.com