YOUNGSTOWN Jury finds man guilty

The Stansbury Drive man faces a mandatory sentence of 18 years to life in prison.
By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR COURTHOUSE REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Tremaine P. Brown didn't flinch when a jury pronounced him guilty of murdering his girlfriend.
As deputy sheriffs led him out of the courtroom moments later, Brown smiled at his mother and asked her to deposit money for him in his commissary account at the Mahoning County Jail.
That was the quiet end of Brown's trial in common pleas court, where a jury convicted him of murder Monday after some five hours of deliberation. He will be sentenced next week by Judge James C. Evans.
Brown faces a mandatory penalty of 15 years to life in prison for murder, with an additional three years for using a firearm. Under Ohio law, the firearm sentence must be served before the murder sentence kicks in.
Prosecutors say Brown, 25, shot and killed his 21-year-old girlfriend, Tawanna Thomas, during a domestic dispute outside their Stansbury Drive apartment during the early hours of June 18.
What happened
Witnesses said Thomas had gone outside to sleep in her car after an argument with Brown inside the apartment. They said Brown followed her outside, argued with her some more and shot her in the head as she lay in the car.
Then he dragged Thomas from the car, dumped her in the street and left her to die as he drove off in her car. He was arrested five days later.
Brown said it was self-defense and that he shot Thomas because he believed she was reaching under the seat to grab a gun and shoot him. Defense attorney Douglas B. Taylor argued that Thomas had a violent temper and a penchant for guns.
"I hope the victim's family takes some comfort in knowing that Tawanna Thomas did not contribute in any way to her own death," said assistant prosecutor Jeffrey Limbian. "She was clearly murdered, and I'm glad the jury saw it that way."
Taylor said he will appeal.
"All I can do is present the facts to the jury and let them decide," Taylor said. "This is what they decided."
bjackson@vindy.com