A former Farrell man serving a federal prison term for bank fraud has been charged along with a relative for a car title scheme.

Charles R. Harris, 33, and Franklin W. Harris, 24, of Youngstown, who is listed in court documents as Charles Harris' nephew or cousin, were each charged with 14 counts of tampering with public records, seven counts of false application for title, altered or forged documents and unsworn falsification, four counts of false swearing and one count of theft, defrauding secured creditors and conspiracy.

Franklin Harris was arraigned Oct. 3 by District Justice Henry J. Russo, Farrell, and taken to Mercer County Jail after failing to post $5,000 bond. His preliminary hearing was set for 11:30 a.m. Friday.

Charles Harris has not been arraigned.

State police gave this account:

Charles Harris bought a car Sept. 9, 1998, in Ohio and applied for a Pennsylvania title in his name. On June 8, 1999, he transferred ownership to Franklin, saying the car was a gift, making the transfer nontaxable.

Eight days later, they borrowed money from Franek Finance Co., 801 Broadway, Farrell, and allowed for a lien of $9,120.

On July 29, 1999, Franklin Harris applied for a duplicate title, claiming the original had been lost but, a day later, Franklin Harris transferred ownership back to Charles Harris using the original title.