Suspect in Struthers teen branding free on bond

A Boardman man who police say is a suspect in the branding of a Struthers teen appeared in court on Monday.

A judge in Struthers Municipal court set a five-thousand dollar bond for 33-year-old Andrew Kocak, who was arraigned on a charge of intimidation.

Authorities say a grand jury is considering other charges against Kocak, who police believe used a heated snuff can and martial arts throwing star to repeatedly place burns on the thigh of 17-year-old Derrick Reber.

Police say Kocak tried to intimidate Reber into lying about his age, as authorities investigated the branding incident.

Three Struthers residents, 38-year-old Brian Pryjma, 46-year-old Laura Lyden and 35-year-old Ronald Bier, are charged after a video from the August 11th party was posted on YouTube and Facebook.

Reber says Lyden, an employee of the Mahoning County Sheriff's Office, gave him some pills and marijuana for the pain afterward.

Lyden and Pryjma are charged with with Endangering Children, Corrupting Another with Drugs and Felonious Assault.

Bier is charged with Endangering Children and Felonious Assault.

Lyden has already been arraigned. Pryjma and Bier are scheduled to appear in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court on Tuesday.