Oregon man arraigned on charges of selling synthetic marijuana

4/7/2014

An Oregon man charged with setting a fire that killed two firefighters was arraigned today 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 is also charged with aggravated murder, arson and tampering with evidence in the deaths of Toledo fire Privates Stephen Machcinski, 42, and Jamie Dickman, 31, who were killed while fighting a fire at a Magnolia Street apartment complex on Jan. 26.