AKRON, Ohio --

A man linked to a deadly Ohio Craigslist robbery scheme has appeared before a judge in an unrelated matter -- in a wheelchair and with his head rocking rhythmically.

   His attorney said 52-year-old Richard Beasley felt weak Thursday and deputies in Akron provided the wheelchair. Lawyer Rhonda Kotnik says Beasley's mother fears he suffered a stroke.

Officials previously said  Beasley mentored a 16-year-old boy charged in what authorities say was a scheme that used a bogus Craigslist job ad to lure victims. A complaint against the teen says he participated in the crimes with Beasley. Authorities have linked two deaths to the scheme.

Beasley was indicted Wednesday in a prostitution case.   He did not speak in court Thursday and did not respond outside to a shouted question of whether there were more bodies.

According to The Associated Press, Texas authorities allowed Beasley to be temporarily released from an Ohio jail earlier this year.

   The Texas Parole Authority initially requested that Beasley be held for violating his burglary conviction parole after he was arrested in Ohio on drug-dealing charges. But records show Texas was only interested in bringing Beasley back if he were convicted in the drug case.

   Bill Holland, a spokesman for the Summit County Sheriff's Office, told The Associated Press on Thursday that Texas agreed to lift its hold on Beasley until the drug case was resolved.