Tuesday, October 25, 2005
The trial of the third man accused in William Lee's death will start Nov. 28.
By WILLIAM K. ALCORN
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- A Hilton Avenue man pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the July 27, 2003, shooting death of William Lee and was sentenced Monday to a total of 13 years in prison by Mahoning County Common Pleas Judge Maureen A. Sweeney.
Latrell Jackson, 21 at the time of the shooting, is one of three men charged in Lee's death during a robbery that went bad. Originally charged with murder, he pleaded to a lesser charge in exchange for his cooperation in Terry Rozier's upcoming trial, including testimony if necessary.
Rozier, 28 at the time of the shooting, is one of two other defendants in the case. Rozier, of Woodford Avenue, is scheduled for trial Nov. 28 before Judge Sweeney.
The third defendant, Odis Simmons, 19 at the time of the shooting, was sentenced in September 2004 to 13 years in jail by Judge Sweeney. Simmons, of Hudson Avenue, also agreed to cooperate in cases against the other defendants, including trial testimony if necessary.
Jackson was sentenced after pleading guilty to one count of involuntary manslaughter. He also pleaded guilty to two counts each of kidnapping and aggravated robbery with a firearms specification, as had Simmons.
Judge Sweeney sentenced Jackson to 10 years on each count, to be served concurrently, and a mandatory three years on the gun specification, to be served consecutively, court officials said. Jackson will receive credit for the 820 days he served in Mahoning County Jail awaiting his trial and sentencing.
How events unfolded
Prosecutors say Simmons, Lee, Jackson and Rozier conspired to rob an Aurora Drive couple on July 27, 2003.
Officials said the four men demanded more money after they'd already robbed the man of $400. While Rozier stayed behind to guard the man's wife, who was tied up in a house on Woodford Avenue, the other three put the man in his own car and took him to get more money.
Along the way, the man struggled with Jackson for a gun. The gun fired and the bullet struck Lee in the abdomen.
Since Lee was killed during a robbery, the others were charged with his death even though police believe he was their accomplice. Simmons, Jackson and Rozier all were charged with murder, as well as two counts each of kidnapping and aggravated robbery for what happened to the couple.
The Aurora Drive man was not charged because prosecutors said he was defending himself.
alcorn@vindy.com