Man to appeal drug trafficking conviction

YOUNGSTOWN -- William M. Jones Jr. says he intends to appeal his conviction for drug and crack cocaine trafficking.
Judge R. Scott Krichbaum of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court sentenced Jones Tuesday to 11 1/2 years in prison after a jury found him guilty Friday of one count of trafficking in drugs and three counts of trafficking in crack cocaine.
Jones, 30, of West LaClede Avenue, was indicted in September for selling Vicodin last May and for selling various amounts of crack cocaine in May and July. Three of the four charges stemmed from sales within 1,000 feet of a school.
Jones was on probation for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle when the drug sales occurred, Assistant County Prosecutor Terry Grenga said.
Jones would have served four years under terms of a deal that was offered to him before the trial began, but he took his chances at trial and understood the consequences, Judge Krichbaum said.
Before he was sentenced, Jones maintained his innocence and told the judge that he will file an appeal.
The jury heard testimony from a woman who bought drugs from Jones and watched police videotapes of Jones selling drugs to undercover officers. Jones said one of the tapes didn't show him doing anything.