Conviction stands in drug, robbery and death case

YOUNGSTOWN — The 7th District Court of Appeals has upheld the conviction of a man a jury found guilty of participating in a drug deal and robbery on Randolph Street that led to the death of his accomplice.

The appellate judges unanimously ruled Tuesday in the case of Larese Jones, 31, of Wampum Drive, who was sentenced to 36 years to life in prison for his complicit role in the crimes, which resulted in the death of Richard Helms, 43, of Himrod Avenue.

Judge R. Scott Krichbaum of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court consecutively imposed on Jones eight years for aggravated drug trafficking, 10 years for aggravated robbery, 15 years to life for murder and three years for the gun specifications.

Jones argued unsuccessfully in his appeal that his conviction was based on insufficient evidence.

However, the appeals court ruled that the evidence, including Jones’ statement to police, showed Jones drove Helms to David Klamer Jr.’s Randolph Street residence on Feb. 22, 2007, knowing that Helms was armed and planned to sell Klamer 90 Oxycontin pills and rob Klamer, and that Jones was to be Helms’ getaway driver.

After Helms and Jones arrived at Klamer’s residence, Helms and Klamer fired handguns at each other, and Helms was fatally shot in the head, the prosecution said. Jones fled, leaving behind his crutches, and was later arrested in Akron.

The appeals court also rejected Jones’ claims that his lawyer, John J. Dixon, didn’t effectively represent him and that Judge Krichbaum improperly instructed the jury on the law of complicity.

Klamer, 49, pleaded guilty to aggravated drug trafficking, and Judge Krichbaum sentenced him to three years in prison.

The prosecution dropped the murder charge it had filed against Klamer because it said Klamer acted in self defense.

The appeals court decision in the Jones case was written by Judge Gene Donofrio, with Judges Joseph J. Vukovich and Mary DeGenaro concurring.