Former Trumbull official pleads not guilty

Hines waives court appearance on menacing charge

WARREN -- Former Trumbull County auditor and treasurer David Hines, through his attorney, on Thursday submitted a written not guilty plea on a menacing charge in Warren Municipal Court.

Hines, 81, of Sutton Place, Howland, was arrested Wednesday and spent a short time at Trumbull County jail on a warrant for the fourth-degree misdemeanor that carries a maximum 30-day jail term and $250 fine.

According to municipal court Judge Terry Ivanchak, Hines' attorney Gary Rich filed a not guilty plea and waived the defendant's appearance. A time waiver also was signed, and a preliminary hearing in the case was set before Ivanchak for Oct. 14.

A docket entry shows that because Hines' motor vehicle appeared to aid the defendant in his actions, as a condition of his personal bond, Ivanchak suspended his driver's license.

A police report from 12:30 p.m. Tuesday shows a police officer was dispatched to the Family Dollar store at 378 Elm Road, where a 15-year-old girl complained about being followed by a man driving a white Ford Mustang as she was walking on Elm.

The driver did not say anything until she walked into the store's parking lot. At this time, the man tried yelling to her to come and get in his car. The man, described as wearing a brown plaid shirt, sat in his vehicle in the lot for several minutes trying to get her into his car. The girl and another witness took pictures on their cellphones of the vehicle and the license plate. The report identified the suspect as Hines.

The alleged victim and her mother were in the courtroom for Thursday's hearing but did not comment.

Hines left his county office in late 2005.