YOUNGSTOWN Judge sentences 4th man convicted in rape

Jamar Callier's testimony was a critical part of the prosecutor's case against three other defendants.
By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR COURTHOUSE REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- The last of four suspects in the kidnapping and gang-rape of a Boardman woman last summer was sent to prison Monday.
Jamar Callier was sentenced to seven years by Judge R. Scott Krichbaum of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court. It was the maximum term he could impose.
Callier, 22, of West Delason Avenue, was indicted by a county grand jury in 2001 on two counts each of rape and aggravated robbery and single counts of kidnapping and conspiracy to aggravated robbery. Each count had a gun specification attached.
But as part of a plea agreement with the prosecutor's office in August, the kidnapping charge was reduced to abduction and one aggravated robbery count was reduced to theft. The rest of the charges were dismissed.
In exchange for the reduction, Callier agreed to testify at trial against the other three defendants, who all were convicted last month.
Judge Krichbaum sentenced Brandon Moore, 16, to a total of 141 years on kidnapping, rape and robbery charges. Chaz Bunch, 18, got 105 years for similar charges. Andre Bundy, 19, got 18 years on robbery counts.
Important testimony
Assistant Prosecutor Deena Calabrese said Callier kept his end of the bargain by testifying truthfully. She said his testimony was critical in identifying Bunch as one of the rapists.
Callier's lawyer, John B. Juhasz, said there was DNA evidence linking Moore to the rapes, but no scientific evidence against Bunch. Judge Krichbaum said that's the only reason he approved the plea agreement.
The victim was kidnapped from a driveway on Detroit Avenue and driven to a remote site just off Market Street in Youngstown, where Bunch and Moore repeatedly raped and sodomized her while Bundy and Callier sat in a car and watched.
Callier testified that when Bunch put a gun to the woman's mouth and threatened to kill her, he got out of the car and made Bunch let her go.
The victim, who is now 22, had consented to the plea bargain, but said she has mixed feelings. She's grateful that Callier helped gain convictions of the other three, but is uncomfortable with the thought of Callier serving only seven years behind bars.
"It frightens me that a man who watched and listened as a woman was being raped and beaten will be released in such a short time," she said.
Juhasz said Callier stepped forward because he regrets what happened and wanted to help make it right.
Callier apologized to the victim, to her family, and to his own family.
"I wish I could do it all over and do something sooner," he said.
bjackson@vindy.com