Warrant issued for arrest of key witness

YOUNGSTOWN — A judge has issued a warrant for the arrest and detention without bond of a key witness in a murder trial, which is to begin Monday.

Judge Maureen A. Sweeney of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court issued the material witness warrant Tuesday for Jaered Andrews, 29, whose last known address is in Columbus. She issued the order in response to a joint motion by Robert J. Andrews, assistant county prosecutor, and Martin E. Yavorcik, the defense lawyer for Allen K. Frost, 37, of Crandall Avenue.

In a videotaped statement, Jaered Andrews told police the victim, Gregory Sopher, lost a bet to Frost over a video game, noticed he was missing some money and asked Frost about the money, and Frost took offense. Jaered Andrews told police he then saw Frost shoot Sopher, 18, of South Raccoon Road, Canfield, on Oct. 27, 2007, in Frost’s residence, according to a memorandum in support of the motion.

The prosecuting and defense lawyers said in their memorandum that multiple attempts to contact and serve subpoenas on Jaered Andrews to testify in the trial have failed; and that they believe he is purposely making himself unavailable. The state tried unsuccessfully to serve subpoenas on him at the Columbus address and at his parents’ Boardman residence, the memorandum said.