Lynnway car theft suspect pleads innocent, free on bail

SALEM – A Superior Court judge agreed to continue the $15,000 cash bail for an alleged car thief who drove away a Cadillac from a Lynnway business two months ago.Peter Nawn, 45, of 116 Lafayette St., Salem, appeared Wednesday from his arraignment, pleading innocent to larceny of a motor vehicle, leaving the scene after causing property damage and being a habitual criminal.At the joint request of the prosecutor and defense, Judge John T. Lu agreed to set the same bail amount set earlier in Lynn District Court and continued the case to Sept. 12 for a pretrial hearing.In the meantime, Nawn remains free on the high cash bail until his case is resolved.The charge arises from an incident on June 23 when Nawn allegedly drove away a gray Cadillac from the Lynnway Meineke Shop and abandoned it behind Lynn English High School, but not before striking another car at Chestnut and Union Streets.The car’s keys were reportedly in the ignition of vehicle and the car was running when he drove it away.State Police, who were provided a description of the thief by Meineke employees, stopped the suspect on Western Avenue and Rockingham Street.Assistant District Attorney Karen Hopwood is prosecuting the case for the state and Jeffrey Sweeney is the court-appointed defense lawyer for Nawn.Nawn is no stranger to the criminal system. He has convictions in Salem Superior Court for stealing a car, operating under the influence of alcohol, third offense, burglarious tools, negligent operation of a motor vehicle and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. Then, in 2005, he pleaded guilty in Salem Superior Court to operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, fourth offense, and operating a motor vehicle while under suspension and received five to seven years in state prison.