YOUNGSTOWN MURDER Woman pleads guilty to conspiracy charges

Three women will testify against two male co-defendants at trial this month.
YOUNGSTOWN -- A city woman faces a 23-year prison sentenced for her role in the robbery and murder of a man two years ago this month.
Lachonna D. Tarver, 26, of Kendis Circle, Youngstown, appeared Monday before Judge James C. Evans of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court. She pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit aggravated murder and aggravated robbery with a firearm specification. The first charge was amended from an original indictment that charged her with aggravated murder.
Efrin Brown, 26, also of Kendis Circle, was reported missing by his family April 13, 2004. Police found his body three days later in a vacant Kendis Circle apartment. Brown had been shot.
Five co-defendants
Tarver is one of five co-defendants in the case.
Craig Owens, 23, of Bassett Lane, Youngstown, and Cedric V. Phillips, 21, of Charlotte, N.C., formerly of Kendis Circle, are scheduled to go on trial April 24 on aggravated murder and aggravated robbery charges.
If convicted, they each could be sentenced to life in prison for aggravated murder, 10 years for aggravated robbery, and three years for gun specifications.
Denise Jackson, 22, of Kendis Circle, pleaded guilty last December to conspiracy to commit aggravated murder and aggravated robbery. Taryse Ingram, 25, also of Kendis Circle, pleaded guilty in December to aggravated robbery. Both are scheduled for sentencing April 27 after they testify at Owens' and Phillips' trial, said Martin P. Desmond, an assistant county prosecutor.
Tarver will be sentenced after she also testifies, Desmond added. The maximum sentence for Tarver is 23 years. Desmond said he'll hold off on a sentencing recommendation for now.
Robbery was the motive in Brown's killing, Desmond said.
Tarver's version of events is the same as the statements of Jackson and Ingram, except that she recalled a discussion about getting rid of Brown, Desmond said. All three women said they left before the murder occurred, he added.