HOMICIDE CASE Prosecutor drops charges against man

The man already is doing time in federal prison for unrelated drug charges.
By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR COURTHOUSE REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Prosecutors have dropped felony charges, including murder, against a Youngstown man in a 2000 homicide.
The charges could be refiled in the future, said Robert Andrews, an assistant Mahoning County prosecutor.
Frank Christian, 31, of Rutledge Drive, was indicted by a county grand jury in December 2000 on charges of murder, complicity to murder and obstructing justice.
Authorities said he was an accomplice in the Nov. 17, 2000, death of 30-year Larry Williams of West Heights Avenue, who was shot after an argument at the Paris Inn in Campbell.
Kealoha Demery, 22, of Duquesne, Pa., pleaded guilty in 2001 to voluntary manslaughter in the case and is serving a 13-year prison sentence.
Andrews said Christian is in a federal prison for unrelated charges and won't be available anytime soon to be prosecuted for the murder case. According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons Web site, Christian is not due to be released until 2021.
Attorney's stance
Christian's attorney, Mark Lavelle, said the federal sentence is for unrelated drug charges. He said prosecutors dropped the local charges against Christian because there is no evidence that he was involved in Williams' death.
"There is no dispute that Demery was the shooter in this case," Lavelle said. "The only issue is whether my client conspired with him, and there is a complete lack of evidence of that."
Lavelle said he will be surprised if prosecutors ever bring charges back against Christian in connection with Williams' death.
bjackson@vindy.com