MAHONING COUNTY Man gets 5 years for shooting

Prosecutors said the shooting was the result of a drug deal gone bad.
By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR COURTHOUSE REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Jamal Finley apologized for "wasting the court's time," but didn't say he was sorry for shooting another man in the mouth.
Finley, 26, of West Delason Avenue, was sentenced to five years in prison Thursday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court for attempted murder, aggravated robbery and possession of cocaine.
Judge James C. Evans gave Finley credit for 795 days he'd spent in the county jail awaiting trial. Ohio law requires that judges credit that jail time toward any prison sentence.
The sentence was recommended in a plea agreement reached among lawyers in the case.
Assistant Prosecutor Jay Macejko said Finley shot Horace Anderson in the mouth during what appeared to be a drug deal gone bad April 30, 2002.
A witness told police he saw a man walk up to the driver's window of Anderson's car, which was stopped at West Judson Avenue and Glenwood Avenue. The witness heard an argument and one gunshot, then saw the man run away.
Identified by victim
Anderson gave police a written statement in which he identified Finley as the shooter, Macejko said. He said Anderson was hospitalized in critical condition from the gunshot wound, but lived. Anderson was not in court for the sentencing.
Finley asked for forgiveness from the court.
"That's about it," he said.
Defense attorney Charles Curry said Finley has completed several self-help and treatment programs offered by the Community Corrections Association while he was in the county jail. Among them were two courses on managing stress and anger.
"He was not a slouch while he was in there," Curry said.
bjackson@vindy.com