Lee calms down and pleads guilty to manslaughter charge


March 14, 2008 at 7:14p.m.

Lee calms down and pleads guilty to manslaughter charge

YOUNGSTOWN — A defendant in a homicide case, who was disruptive in court Thursday morning, quietly pleaded guilty to a reduced charge today.

Michael W. Lee, 20, of Cordova Avenue, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter with a gun specification, aggravated robbery and kidnapping charges in the Nov. 18 shooting death of James E. Dow, 28, of South Lakeview Avenue.

Dow was found dead in the basement of 145 Thornton Ave., his feet bound with tape. Police said the motive was robbery or drug related.

In an appearance before Judge R. Scott Krichbaum of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court, Lee also pleaded guilty to felonious assault on another man with a gun specification, that offense also having occurred on Nov. 18.

Robert E. Bush, chief of the criminal division in the county prosecutor’s office, recommended a 30-year combined total prison sentence for Lee, who will be sentenced at 10 a.m. May 14.

For the complete story, see Saturday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com.