Monday, April 23, 2007
YOUNGSTOWN — A city man who sat in Mahoning County Jail for three years awaiting trial on murder charges opted to enter a guilty plea to lesser charges just before a jury was to be selected to hear his case.
Donteill Grant, 27, was indicted on aggravated murder, conspiracy to aggravated murder and aggravated robbery in early 2004 in connection with the September 2002 murder of Jefferson Smith Jr. , 57, who was found shot to death in his South Side home.
The trial was to begin today before Judge James C. Evans of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court, but Grant decided to accept a plea bargain at the last minute instead, offering a guilty plea to charges of voluntary manslaughter with a gun specification and aggravated robbery. All other charges were dismissed.
For the complete story, see Tuesday's Vindicator and Vindy.com.