Man pleads guilty to murder of two

Porterfield may get a half-century or more in prison.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Eric Porterfield says he is guilty of killing two men and attempting to kill a third.
Porterfield, 28, of Colt Street, pleaded guilty Monday to two charges of aggravated murder, a charge of attempted murder, two charges of kidnapping, and a charge each of aggravated robbery and aggravated burglary.
Porterfield met with his attorneys in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court for two hours before deciding to enter his pleas.
When asked by Judge W. Wyatt McKay how he wished to plead to the charges in the indictment, Porterfield hesitated before quietly saying, "Guilty."
He declined to comment further.
Possible sentence: Judge McKay said Porterfield, who faces 53 years to life in prison, will be sentenced after a background check is completed by the county adult probation department.
Atty. James Gentile, who represents Porterfield, said he will reserve comment until after sentencing.
Diane Barber, an assistant county prosecutor, said that if Porterfield had declined to enter his pleas, his murder trial would have started with jury selection.
If the case had gone to trial and Porterfield were convicted of all the charges, he could have faced the death penalty, court officials said.
Others in case: Porterfield, Ronald Shaffer, 20, of Newton Falls, and Dennis B. Gossett, 35, of Colt Street, were indicted in the June 23 shooting deaths of Garry D. Bell, 40, of 3066 state Route 5, Leavittsburg, and Charles Mathey III, 40, of Milton Boulevard, Newton Falls.
Shaffer and Porterfield also were indicted on attempted murder charges. Police said the two shot David Harper, 38, of Prospect Street, Newton Township, in the same crime. Harper, who was shot three times, survived.
Shaffer has been convicted of all the charges and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Gossett's case is pending.
Police said Shaffer, Porterfield and Gossett went to Harper's home in June in an attempt to rob Harper of money and drugs. Police declined to say if any drugs were found in Harper's home.