13 years for county man in fatal shooting

LISBON -- The man who played a part in the 2023 murder of Lisbon resident Rusty Steele was sentenced to 13 years in prison Wednesday.

The victim's mother said that's not enough.

"Nobody should have to bury their child," Bonnie Bowersock said while addressing the court, adding that her son would do anything for anyone. "They played on his heart."

Christopher Mills, 43, Washington Street, Washingtonville, pleaded guilty in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court to a lesser offense of conspiracy to commit murder, a first-degree felony, along with a firearm specification since a gun was used to commit the offense, and obstructing justice, a third-degree felony.

He was first indicted for obstructing justice for driving the shooter to and from the scene, but then later was indicted for complicity to aggravated murder and complicity to murder, with a firearm specifications for each.

The conspiracy charge was a lesser offense of the complicity charge. One of the complicity counts and a second firearm specification were dismissed as part of the plea agreement.

"This defendant we believe played a role in getting the victim to exit the residence," county Assistant Prosecutor Alec Beech said, adding the victim was trying to help the defendant at the time.

At the time of the murder on March 3, 2023, Lisbon Police Chief Mike Abraham 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.

The admitted shooter was Michael Blower, 32, Salem, who recently entered a guilty plea to murder and a gun specification for killing Steele, with his sentencing set for March 22 before Common Pleas Court Judge Megan Bickerton.

Beech explained that Blower and Mills were co-workers and Steele and Blower's wife had children together. Mills reportedly did not know Steele. He drove Blower to the residence where the victim was staying and afterwards drove him away from the scene of the murder.

During this case, Beech said he became aware of "how loved Rusty Steele was by his family and friends and how many people this case has affected."

His mother described Rusty as very loving and very caring. He had teen daughters who will have to grow up without him and he's lost out on all those special moments of walking them down the aisle or spending time with grandchildren. She said he was her left hand, her only child. He won't be here to work on cars with his father, either.

"Rusty might still be here if this man had not shown up to get him out of the house," Bowersock said, asking the judge to give him the maximum sentence possible.

Judge Scott Washam explained that there was a plea agreement and he was going to follow the prosecutor's recommendation, which was a mandatory three years for the firearm specification, then 10 years for the conspiracy charge for a total of 13 years. The 30 months for the obstructing charge was ordered served concurrently, or at the same time as the other sentence. The conspiracy indefinite sentence also includes a possible additional five years that the Ohio Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation can tack on once the 13 years is served.

"I don't think it's enough time," Bowersock said.

As he addressed the court, Mills looked toward the family of the victim and said "I'm truly sorry for the loss."

He said he really didn't know what to say and knew what his family was going through. Two of his family members were in the courtroom.

"I'm truly sorry for your loss," he said to Steele's family.

He received credit for 221 days already served.

Washam spoke to Bowersock about the grief she must be feeling and offered his condolences.

"We hope that this provides a step towards closure for the victim's family," Beech said.