Man gets plea deal in 2007 murder

The defendant has promised to testify against three
others in the case.

YOUNGSTOWN — Edward E. Taylor II, 19, has entered a guilty plea to charges of voluntary manslaughter, with a firearm specification, aggravated robbery, kidnapping and felonious assault in the November 2007 death of James Dow.

The prosecutor’s office agreed to drop a charge of aggravated murder in exchange for the plea and Taylor’s promised cooperation in the prosecution of three co-defendants.

Taylor, of Hudson Avenue, entered his plea Friday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court before Judge R. Scott Krichbaum.

He remains in Mahoning County jail with bond set at $2 million.

Authorities said Taylor and three others killed Dow, 28, of South Lakeview Avenue. At the time, police said the motive was drugs and robbery. Dow was found shot to death in the basement of a home at 145 Thornton Ave. on the city’s North Side, his feet bound with tape. Police also found a revolver and shotgun at the crime scene.

Taylor didn’t actually shoot Dow but faced the aggravated murder charge because of his complicity in the crime, Judge Krichbaum said.

Police said Taylor and a second defendant, Michael W. Lee, 20, of Cordova Avenue, fled to Allentown, Pa., after the murder and were arrested there and returned to Youngstown.

The other defendants are Aaron aka George Sherrod, 21, of Stockbridge, Ga., and D’Metri Lee, 18, of Youngstown. D’Metri Lee was 17 at the time of Dow’s death.

Taylor faces up to 39 years in prison on the four counts and firearm specification. The prosecutor has recommended a sentence of 25 years, Krichbaum said.

Sentencing is set for 9:30 a.m. April 30.