Man to face death penalty if convicted

A suspect in the Auto Zone robbery and murder has been indicted.
By PETER H. MILLIKEN
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Mahoning County grand jury has issued a superseding indictment against an Austintown man, which adds death-penalty specifications in the death of his neighbor.
Gregg A. Jenkins, 31, of Compass West, now faces the capital punishment in the Dec. 15 slaying of Robin Kellar, 45, also of the Compass West apartment complex, who was found dead in a fire in her apartment.
"We felt the facts of this case warrant the death penalty," upon review of the case after the initial indictment, said Prosecutor Paul Gains, who declined to elaborate.
Jenkins, who was arrested Dec. 18 and jailed in lieu of 1 million bond, was indicted last month on two aggravated murder counts, one alleging he purposely caused Kellar's death and the other alleging he did so while committing aggravated robbery.
He also was indicted last month on two aggravated arson counts, one alleging he set the fire that harmed Kellar, and the other alleging that the fire he set damaged the occupied apartment complex. He also is charged with a single aggravated robbery count for the robbery of Kellar. All counts in the initial indictment carried firearm specifications.
Kellar wasn't shot, but was beaten, possibly with a gun, police said.
In the superseding indictment, Jenkins faces death-penalty specifications added to the two aggravated murder counts, saying he killed Kellar while committing aggravated robbery and aggravated arson, as well as an additional murder count saying Kellar died as a result of a felonious assault.
Gains declined to say why the extra murder count was added.
Auto Zone shooting
The grand jury also indicted Melvin T. Dixon Jr., 23, of Devon Avenue, on charges of aggravated murder and aggravated robbery with firearm specifications and being a felon in possession of a firearm in the shooting death of Edward Agee, 52, of Star Street.
Agee was fatally shot during a robbery attempt while he was working as a clerk at Auto Zone on McCartney Road on May 2, 2006.
Dixon, who was arrested last Friday, is one of three suspects in the robbery attempt and murder, and police said they believe Dixon was the one who shot Agee.
Other indictments
Others indicted by the grand jury were:
Vandy Bryant, 23, of Roslyn Drive, Youngstown, drug possession with a forfeiture specification.
Eric Lawson, 27, of Turnberry Drive, Boardman, robbery.
Nyesha N. Peeples, 20, of Shehy Street, Youngstown, obstructing justice.
Glenn E. Fertig II, 37, of North Wilbur, N.E., Canton, felonious assault and carrying concealed weapons.
Thomas A. Hauck, 31, of Sandy Road, North Jackson, two counts of driving under the influence of alcohol.
Daryl Frazier, 24, of Miltonia Avenue, Youngstown, cocaine possession.
Billy Lyell, 22, of Oak Forest Drive, Niles, assault.
Tarah L. Desatnik, 22, of Hoyle Road, Berlin Center, failure to comply with an order or signal of a police officer.
Bruce Clinkscale, 34, of Lanterman Avenue, Youngstown, two counts of felonious assault, each with a firearm specification, and two counts of retaliation.
David Tribble IV, 26, of Stewart Avenue, Youngstown, two counts of robbery with a repeat violent offender specification.
Karen D. Ewing, 42, of Princeton Avenue, Youngstown; Dana Gerrard Thomas, 51, of East Judson Avenue, Youngstown; and Richard McNeal, 40, of East Western Reserve Road, Poland, theft.
Matthew G. Zelina, 24, of Canavan Drive, Poland, driving under the influence of alcohol.
Michael E. Hardy, 21, of West Glenaven Avenue, Youngstown, two counts of receiving stolen property.
Gregory L. Beck II, 24, of Hilton Avenue, Youngstown, heroin possession and cocaine possession.
Kevin R. Anderson Jr., 23, of Terrace Boulevard, Lewistown, Pa., tampering with evidence and aggravated drug possession.
Ellis Cathey, 42, of Lexington Avenue, Youngstown, felonious assault.
James Patton, 30, of Cohasset Drive, Youngstown, cocaine possession.
Robert L. Matthews Jr., 35, of Westwood Drive, Austintown, failure to comply with an order or signal of a police officer and burglary.
James S. Overly III, 41, of West Maryland Avenue, Sebring, aggravated trespassing.
Whittington Davis, 20, of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Youngstown, cocaine possession with a forfeiture specification.
Raymond Pankey, also known as Benjamin Pankey, 51, of Poplar Avenue, Hubbard, breaking and entering.
Lenell A. Carter, 32, of High Street, Youngstown, carrying concealed weapons and being a felon in possession of firearms.
Kenneth Lower, 48, of Westchester Drive, Austintown, tampering with evidence and cocaine possession.
Elie Faraj, 22, of Wendemere Drive, Hubbard, theft.
Dominic G. Modarelli, 20, of Brockton Drive, Youngstown, felonious assault.
Todd S. Oliva, 33, of Mahoning County Jail, cocaine possession and cocaine trafficking.
The grand jury declined to indict Richard Alli on a domestic violence charge, Anthony Crockett on a drug possession charge and Calvin Findley on an aggravated robbery charge.