Woman gets maximum term for child endangering

YOUNGSTOWN — A 28-year-old Griffith Street woman is going to prison for the maximum sentence of five years for child endangering in the death of her baby — a year longer than the prison term the prosecution recommended.

April Ford drew the sentence Wednesday from Judge John M. Durkin of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court in the death of Javonte Covington, who suffered a fatal beating on his first birthday on April 27, 2006.

Ford, who will be housed in the state prison for women at Marysville, had earlier pleaded guilty to child endangering and agreed to testify against Terrance Tate had he gone to trial for beating the child. Ford did not speak at her sentencing, which had been deferred until the conclusion of the Tate case.

Tate, 23, of Hilton Avenue, who was Ford’s boyfriend, was originally indicted on an aggravated murder charge with a death penalty specification, but he pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and child endangering just as his capital jury trial was to have begun last month.

Judge R. Scott Krichbaum sentenced Tate to 15 years in prison — a term that is non-appealable because it was agreed to by the prosecution and defense.

Read more in Thursday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com