The Mercer County District Attorney's Office intends to withdraw local charges against a Youngstown man now that a federal indictment has been handed down.

Tuesday, a grand jury in Pittsburgh indicted Arian S. O'Connor, 25, on a charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Pittsburgh.

He was charged for a Sept. 27 incident in Hermitage, and Hermitage police had filed charges of receiving stolen property and two firearms violations against him.

Assistant District Attorney Robert Kochems said the federal case encompasses the charges that had been filed locally, so District Attorney James P. Epstein decided to let the federal case take precedence over the local one.

Kochems said the DA's office will review the federal case and, if it proceeded as they were told it would, the charges will be withdrawn.

Assistant U.S. Attorney's Office spokesman Paul Brysh said the case has been assigned to Judge Joy Flowers Conti, but an arraignment for O'Connor has not been set.

The incident for which O'Connor was arrested began when the Mahoning County Violent Crimes Task Force contacted Hermitage police and said O'Connor might visit a South Hermitage Road motel, police said.

O'Connor was wanted by Youngstown police on a charge of felonious assault, and Ohio parole authorities for violating parole on a separate felonious assault case, police said.

Police from Hermitage and Mahoning County staked out the motel and O'Connor showed up, but fled in a car southbound on South Hermitage Road, police said.

While being pursued, O'Connor threw a loaded Ruger 9 mm pistol, which had been stolen from Youngstown, out the window, police said.

O'Connor stopped at the Broadway Avenue/Route 18 on ramp to Route 60 and was arrested without incident, police said.

Because of his conviction on the charge of felonious assault, O'Connor is not allowed to possess a firearm, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

O'Connor had pleaded guilty in Mercer County to carrying a firearm without a license, but withdrew that plea.