Trending
LISBON -- A jury trial remains set for 9 a.m. June 25 against Charles Bogart Jr. for charges of aggravated murder and murder with firearm specifications for allegedly causing the 2010 death of William "Sonny" Young.
Bogart, 49, Hazel Run Road, Hammondsville, appeared before Columbiana County Common Pleas Court Judge Megan Bickerton for a brief status hearing Monday.
Bickerton spoke briefly with county Chief Assistant Prosecutor Ryan Weikart and defense attorney Chris Amato before going on the record, noting the parties are talking.
She set a new interim status hearing for 2:40 p.m. May 13. The final status hearing remains set for 10 a.m. June 17.
Bogart remains jailed under a $1 million cash or surety bond and could be facing a possible life sentence for the aggravated murder charge if convicted.
Bogart's arrest for the cold case homicide occurred in November, more than 13 years after Young, 69, was discovered dead in the woods behind his home on Spring Valley Road, Salineville near Highlandtown in August 2010. He had been shot to death.
The charges against Bogart include firearm specifications since a gun was used to commit the offense. The indictment alleged that Bogart caused Young's death while committing or attempting to commit aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary or burglary.
Law enforcement officials went to Young's house when alerted by Huntington Bank officials in Calcutta that someone posing as Young tried to cash a $3,500 check from Young's account. That person was identified as Bogart, who was then stopped while driving Young's pickup and had Young's wallet. More of Young's property was found during a search of Bogart's Hazel Run Road home, including Young's PT Cruiser found hidden in high weeds across the road from Bogart's property.
Bogart had been considered a person of interest for the murder, but was only charged at that time for receiving stolen property, identify theft, forgery and misuse of credit cards.