WARREN Man gets 53 years in 2 slayings

This is the second time Porterfield has pleaded guilty.
WARREN -- A 28-year-old defendant in a double murder trial has decided to take a sure 53 years in prison rather than the chance of being sentenced to die.
Eric Porterfield pleaded guilty Friday to two counts of aggravated murder, one count of attempted aggravated murder, two counts of kidnapping, a count of burglary and a count of robbery.
He admitted using a gun in the commission of the crime.
This was the second time Porterfield pleaded guilty to being involved in a Newton Falls home burglary June 23 that left homeowner David Harper, 38, of Prospect Street injured and two others dead.
He was allowed to withdraw his first plea in May, about a month after it was entered. His trial before a three-judge panel began Wednesday.
Other sentences: Two other men involved in the shooting deaths of Garry D. Bell, 40, of state Route 5, Leavittsburg, and Charles Mathey III, 40, of Milton Boulevard, Newton Falls, have already been sentenced.
Ronald Shaffer, 20, of Newton Falls, was convicted of taking part in the shootings and given a life sentence without parole, said Diane Barber, an assistant county prosecutor.
Dennis B. Gossett, 35, of Colt Street, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Gossett was outside when the killings took place, Barber said.
In exchange for his guilty plea, prosecutors dropped specifications that had made Porterfield eligible for the death penalty, she said.
He has been sentenced to 53 years to life with no chance of parole until the 53 years are up.
The trial before Judges W. Wyatt McKay, Andrew Logan and Thomas Swift in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court was to have continued Tuesday.