LISBON — The Washingtonville man charged with complicity to aggravated murder and murder in the shooting death of 40-year-old Rusty Steele of Lisbon earlier this year is set to face a jury trial Feb. 12.

Christopher Mills, 43, Washington Street, appeared for a status hearing Wednesday morning in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court before Judge Scott Washam, accompanied by his defense attorney Chris Amato.

The complicity counts, which include firearm specifications, were recently issued by the county grand jury against Mills in August. He had already been indicted in April for a third-degree felony of obstruction of justice for allegedly being the driver in the March 3 fatal shooting in Lisbon, giving Michael Blower a ride to and from the murder scene and not reporting the incident to police.

Blower, 32, Newgarden Avenue, Salem, is scheduled for a status hearing at 10:20 a.m. Thursday in Common Pleas Court before Judge Megan Bickerton. He remains jailed under a $1.5 million cash or surety bond charged with aggravated murder and murder, both with firearms specifications, for allegedly causing Steele’s death by means of a gun.

During the hearing for Mills, Washam spoke with both Amato and county Chief Assistant Prosecutor Ryan Weikart regarding discovery in the case, noting the amount of evidence provided through discovery was substantial.

An interim status conference in the two cases against Mills was set for 11 a.m. Nov. 30, with a final status hearing scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Feb. 1.

Columbiana County Prosecutor Vito J. Abruzzino noted in a press release at the time the new charges were issued that Mills was charged with aiding and abetting Blower in Steele’s murder. He also said that Mills will be facing the same possible punishment that Blower is facing if convicted, life in prison. According to Abruzzino, the new charges against Mills were based on additional evidence from the ongoing investigation, including digital and electronic information that took time to collect and review.

The day after the shooting, Lisbon Police Chief Mike Abraham said the investigation revealed that Steele was lured out of his girlfriend’s house on West Spruce Street in Lisbon 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. Mills was accused of providing Blower with transportation to and from the murder scene and was allegedly aware that Blower had shot Steele.

Mills remains in custody under a $1 million cash or surety bond.