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LISBON -- A Washingtonville man accused of driving a murder suspect to and from the scene of a fatal Lisbon shooting last month was indicted this week for obstructing justice.
Christopher J. Mills, 42, Washington Street, was charged by the Columbiana County Grand Jury with an open indictment for the third-degree felony charge. The grand jury met for two days and reported out late Wednesday. Bond for Mills remains $50,000 cash or surety.
Michael Blower, 31, East Palestine, was charged with murder last month in the March 3 shooting death of Rusty Steele, 40, of Lisbon, on West Spruce Street.
Lisbon Police Chief Mike Abraham said 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."
In talking about the arrest, Abraham accused Mills of not being truthful in some of what he was telling investigators.
The case against Blower was also bound over to the grand jury, but remains pending.