Man gets 36 to life in robbery, death of accomplice

YOUNGSTOWN — A man convicted of murder by complicity in the robbery that led to the shooting death of his accomplice has been sentenced to 36 years to life in prison.

Judge R. Scott Krichbaum imposed the sentence this morning on Larese Jones, 30, who was convicted on all counts by a jury last week in the Feb. 22 death of Richard Helms. Helms was fatally shot in the head by the intended robbery victim, in the victim’s Randolph Street residence.

Police said Jones, 30, of Wampum Drive, told them he drove Helms, 43, of Himrod Avenue, to the victim’s residence, knowing that Helms planned to sell OxyContin to the man and then rob him. The victim told police he shot Helms during the robbery. Jones was arrested March 1 at an Akron area motel.

The Mahoning County Common Pleas Court jury found Jones guilty of murder, aggravated robbery, aggravated drug trafficking and involuntary manslaughter and of the firearm specifications attached to the robbery, murder and manslaughter charges. The prosecution said Jones was guilty of manslaughter because of his complicity with Helms in the drug trafficking.