Man gets 97 years for robbery, firing at police from car

The shooter showed ‘no regard for human life,’
prosecutor says.

THE VINDICATOR

By PETER H. MILLIKEN

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

YOUNGSTOWN — A 97-year prison term for a man convicted of carjacking a church secretary at gunpoint and shooting from her car in a rolling gunbattle with pursuing police sends the right message to those who might be tempted to repeat that behavior, a prosecutor said.

Judge James C. Evans of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court imposed the time Friday on Jumal Edwards, 23, of Woodcrest Avenue, who was convicted by a jury last week of the aggravated robbery of the Mount Zion Church secretary, three counts of felonious assault and four counts of complicity to felonious assault with gun specifications to all counts.

Gina Arnaut, assistant county prosecutor, asked the judge to impose maximum consecutive prison sentences totaling 118 years.

“We sought the 118 because we wanted to send a message that you can’t shoot at the police, but we think 97 years is a good resolution in this case,” Arnaut said after court. “We have to keep the streets safe.”

The three felonious assault counts and the four complicity counts, one per city police officer, pertain to the seven officers who were shot at from the fleeing Cadillac on July 1, 2005, on the city’s East Side.

Edwards showed “no regard for human life as he shot his assault rifle” at the officers and has shown no remorse, Arnaut told the judge.

Edwards’ lawyer, James Melone, told the judge, however, there was no evidence of premeditation; the chase lasted only one minute; and there were no injuries. “Sending him away for 118 years is [the equivalent of] a death sentence,” he added.

Joyce Morucci, a social worker who once counseled Edwards, said Edwards must suffer the consequences of any wrongdoing. But she asked the judge to have mercy on Edwards, who she said had a troubled childhood, lived in foster and group homes, displayed a deep sense of spirituality and did not appear to be a habitually violent person.

“He’s got to pay the price. ... We’re just fortunate that we aren’t here with multiple wounds, not just to police officers, but to people standing around and in their houses,” Judge Evans said.

Because of a possible appeal, Edwards followed Melone’s advice not to make a statement in court.

The prison time will consist of 10 years for the aggravated robbery, three years for the gun specification attached to that (for a total of 13 years); seven years on each felonious assault count and on each complicity count (for a total of 49 years); and five years for each motor vehicle gun specification attached to each felonious assault and complicity count (for a total of 35 years), all to be served consecutively, for a total of 97 years.

The first jury trial in this case led to conviction of Craig Franklin Jr., 19, of Glenwood Avenue, on seven counts of felonious assault with gun specifications in August and a 105-year prison term for him.

Trials are forthcoming for two other men the prosecution alleges were in the fleeing Cadillac — Duniek Christian, 22, of North Garland Avenue, and Brandon C. Jackson, 23, of Truesdale Avenue.