Gantt likely to get 6-year term after pleading guilty to assault

Photo

Steffin Gantt

Gantt shot an off-duty firefighter during a struggle.

STAFF REPORT

YOUNGSTOWN — The man who shot a former city firefighter in the firefighter’s East Side residence last fall has pleaded guilty to felonious assault with a gun specification and to illegal gun possession.

In a plea agreement, Ross Smith, an assistant Mahoning County prosecutor, agreed to drop an aggravated-robbery charge against Stefin Gantt, 20, of Warren, and to recommend a six-year prison term for him.

Gantt shot off-duty firefighter Andre Johnson, 26, in the face, stomach and leg Nov. 14 in Johnson’s North Fruit Street residence. Police said they believe Gantt was at Johnson’s house to buy drugs.

During the struggle in Johnson’s basement, Gantt’s right ear was likely bitten or cut off, and he suffered a gunshot wound to his left forearm, police said.

The recommended six-year sentence would consist of three years each for the felonious assault and illegal gun possession to be served concurrently, and three consecutive years for the gun specification attached to the felonious-assault charge.

Gantt entered his guilty pleas Thursday before Judge Timothy E. Franken of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court, who will sentence him at a later date.

Johnson was indicted on felony marijuana possession and drug trafficking charges after police said they found a pound of marijuana, drug paraphernalia and a loaded handgun in Johnson’s residence.

Under a plea agreement with Johnson, the prosecution dropped the trafficking charge and reduced the possession charge to attempted possession, a misdemeanor.

Johnson, who now lives in Encino, Calif., pleaded guilty to that misdemeanor and was placed on six months of nonreporting probation on the condition that he waive his right to appeal his termination from the fire department.

The city fired him because of what it said was his “apparent participation in or acquiescence to illegal drug activity” in his home.

Michael J. McBride, another assistant county prosecutor, said he made the plea deal with Johnson because his major goal was to keep Johnson off the fire department and because Johnson had no prior criminal convictions.