YOUNGSTOWN — State testimony from a police officer, a child psychiatrist and three investigators with the Ohio Bureau of Investigation took place Friday in the trial of Alex C. Bugno.

Bugno, 31, of Poland and former owner of a towing company, is charged with 14 counts of compelling prostitution and one of pandering obscenities. He is accused of paying three boys to engage in sexual activity with him. If convicted by a jury of eight women and four men, Bugno could get up to three years in prison on each count of compelling prostitution. The pandering charge carries a possible penalty of 18 months in prison.

Prosecutors said from February to June 2014, the boys, then 16 and 17, received money in return for their sexual favors. But testimony has shown that Bugno later didn’t pay, and the boys got angry.

Youngstown patrolman Jacob Short said he answered a call to Bugno’s towing company June 21, 2014, to take a criminal damage report about BB holes in some of the vehicles there. Short testified that Bugno gave him no names of suspects, but said he would look at surveillance cameras. In cross examination, Short told defense attorney Lynn Maro he had expected detectives to follow up on the call.

The incident led one of the boys to tell his dad about his relationship with Bugno, and it was reported to police.

Earlier testimony revealed the Ohio BCI recovered electronic devices during a search of the towing company and other locations.

BCI forensic agents Heather Karl and Clarice A. Cowgill testified 24 items were confiscated and submitted to BCI, and copies of hard drives were made. Former BCI investigator Christine Ross listed phone records of calls between Bugno and two of his alleged victims, noting hundreds of contacts between Jan. 19, 2014, and June 21, 2014.

Dr. Pradeep Mathur, a staff psychologist at Belmont Pines Hospital in Liberty, testified he had interviewed one of the 16-year-old victims during June 2014 when the teen had attempted to kill himself with a shotgun. Mathur said the teen had talked about a business owner offering to pay him $500 in exchange for oral sex.

“The boy got angry after he was only paid $50,” Mathur said, noting the alleged victim again had to be treated in 2015 for the same anger issues.

The trial is expected to resume Tuesday with more prosecution testimony. A court official said testimony could wrap up by Wednesday.

gvogrin@tribtoday.com