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LISBON -- A hearing in the case against Christopher Mills, who's charged with complicity to aggravated murder, murder and obstruction of justice in the shooting death of Rusty Steele, was continued until 1:15 p.m. today.
Mills, 43, Washington Street, Washingtonville, appeared briefly Thursday before Columbiana County Common Pleas Court Judge Scott Washam, who said both sides were continuing negotiations.
The jury trial remains set for 8:30 a.m. Feb. 12.
Washam had discussions behind closed doors with defense attorney Chris Amato and county Chief Assistant Prosecutor Ryan Weikart and Assistant Prosecutor Alec Beech before going on the record.
Mills was indicted in April for third-degree felony 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.
He was then indicted in August for additional charges of complicity to aggravated murder and complicity to murder for his part in Steele's death.
The complicity indictment against Mills alleges that he aided and abetted Blower in the murder. Police alleged that the victim was lured out of his girlfriend's house on West Spruce Street by a stranger who claimed to be having car trouble and needed help. Steele was shot when he went outside to start his vehicle for a jump.
Mills remains in custody under a $1 million cash or surety bond.
The shooter, Michael Blower, 32, of Salem, already entered a guilty plea to murder and a gun specification for killing Steele. He's facing sentencing at 2 p.m. March 22 in county Common Pleas Court, with a possible sentence of 18 years to life in prison expected to be recommended by the state, according to what was said during the plea hearing.