Sentencing is called off after withdrawal request

The defendant had pleaded guilty in June.

STAFF REPORT

YOUNGSTOWN — A planned sentencing for a man who pleaded guilty to a murder and a felonious assault was called off by a judge on Thursday, because the defendant said he wants to withdraw his guilty plea and go to trial.

Judge Maureen A. Sweeney of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court called off the sentencing of Charles Jones, 32, of Lincoln Park Drive, who had pleaded guilty June 23 to murdering Waddell L. Casey, 29, of Stewart Avenue; and to felonious assault on Michael Faiola, 24, of Lynn Avenue, with a gun specification.

Casey was found shot in the head on a couch in his living room. Faiola was shot in the hand in the same Oct. 30, 2006, incident.

In the plea agreement, the prosecution agreed to drop an attempted murder charge listing Faiola as a victim and to recommend a total prison sentence of 18 years to life, with the time for the felonious assault concurrent with the murder sentence.

Jones, who maintains his innocence, wants to withdraw his guilty plea because he said he didn’t realize how much time he would serve in prison under the plea agreement, according to Thomas Zena, a defense lawyer.

Jones will be represented by a new lawyer, Douglas Taylor, when he appears at a hearing on his plea withdrawal request at a later date.

Telling the judge that she had carefully reviewed the plea agreement with Jones when he pleaded guilty, Robert J. Andrews, assistant county prosecutor, unsuccessfully urged the judge to deny Jones’ plea withdrawal request and proceed with sentencing.

Casey’s parents, who had planned to make victim-impact statements at Jones’ sentencing, abruptly left the courtroom while court was still in session, just after the judge called off the sentencing.