Man gets 10 years for slaying

The victim’s death was unintended, the defense lawyer says.

staff report

YOUNGSTOWN — A 35-year-old Samuel Avenue man has once again pleaded guilty and been sentenced to 10 years in prison for involuntary manslaughter in the punching death of a city woman 21‚Ñ2 years ago.

Lee Johnson Jr. entered his plea Friday before Judge R. Scott Krichbaum of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court, who imposed the sentence in the Oct. 23, 2005, death of Regina Miller, 28, of Forestview Avenue.

The Johnson case returned to Judge Krichbaum when the 7th District Court of Appeals ruled that the judge erred by refusing to let Johnson withdraw his guilty plea to involuntary manslaughter.

After the appellate court ruling, Judge Krichbaum set the case for trial in August of this year on the original murder charge, which carried a possible life prison term, and issued a material-witness warrant for the arrest and detention of Johnson’s father, Lee Johnson Sr., 56, of Ohio Avenue.

The judge issued the warrant after Rhys B. Cartwright-Jones, assistant county prosecutor, called the elder Johnson a crucial prosecution witness.

Friday’s guilty plea and sentencing on the lesser charge of involuntary manslaughter came two days after the elder Johnson was arrested on the warrant at his residence. After Friday’s plea and sentencing hearing, Judge Krichbaum released the elder Johnson from the warrant.

Atty. Douglas Taylor told the judge his client did not intend to kill Miller; and the younger Johnson told the judge he was “truly sorry” for Miller’s death.

Because he has already been behind bars for 21‚Ñ2 years, the younger Johnson will be freed in 71‚Ñ2 years.