BORDERLAND

Abou-Arab, son indicted on trafficking charges

4/8/2014

An Oregon man charged with setting a fire that killed two firefighters was arraigned Monday on unrelated charges of selling synthetic marijuana.

Ray Abou-Arab, 61, of 1311 Sierra Drive pleaded not guilty before Lucas County Common Pleas Judge Stacy Cook to two counts of trafficking in a controlled substance, while his son, Omar Abou-Arab, 34, of 3552 Lynnbrooke Lane, Oregon, entered not-guilty pleas to two counts of complicity in the commission of trafficking in a controlled substance. Judge Cook set a pretrial hearing in the cases for May 1.

Prosecutors allege that on May 3 and May 15, a customer came into the Fassett Mini Mart seeking a synthetic marijuana product and was directed by Omar Abou-Arab to a cellular-phone store around the corner where Ray Abou-Arab allegedly sold the illegal substance.

Ray Abou-Arab also is charged with aggravated murder, arson, and tampering with evidence in the deaths of Toledo fire Pvts. Stephen Machcinski, 42, and Jamie Dickman, 31, who were killed while fighting a fire at a Magnolia Street apartment building on Jan. 26.

Preston Horton of Toledo during a March 30 gang fight in the 300 block of Somerset Street in South Toledo at 1:05 a.m. During the fight, five or six shots were fired. The Horton youth was shot in his left arm, police said.

Mr. Luce is scheduled for a preliminary hearing April 14.