2 accused of murder plead to lesser charges

The men will be sentenced to their prison terms next year.

STAFF REPORT

YOUNGSTOWN — Two 19-year-old men originally charged with aggravated murder with a firearm specification have pleaded guilty to lesser charges.

D’Von Walls, of Halls Heights Avenue, and Robert Floyd Jr., of Atkinson Avenue, entered their pleas Monday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.

They were charged in the Aug. 20, 2008, shooting death of Sirtan Alli, 19, of McGuffey Road.

Walls, who the prosecution believes fired the fatal shot, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter with a firearm specification and faces six to 13 years in prison. Jennifer McLaughlin-Smith, an assistant county prosecutor, is recommending a seven-year prison term for him.

Floyd, who the prosecution believes drove Walls to and from the shooting scene, pleaded guilty to complicity to voluntary manslaughter. The prosecutor’s office is recommending a prison term of unspecified duration for Floyd, who could be locked up for three to 10 years.

Had they been convicted on the aggravated-murder charge, on which they were indicted, Walls and Floyd could have spent their lives in prison without parole.

Walls and Floyd entered their pleas before Judge John M. Durkin, who will sentence them at 1:30 p.m. Jan. 27. Both defendants remain on electronically monitored house arrest pending sentencing.

Alli was found shot in the back of his head on the sidewalk on McGuffey Road near Cassius Street on the city’s East Side and died later that day in St. Elizabeth Health Center.

A 9 mm handgun with 11 rounds in its magazine was found on the sidewalk between the victim’s legs.

Walls told police he and Floyd exchanged gunfire with Alli, and Walls said he later threw a gun into a Dryden Avenue sewer.

A search of the sewer didn’t turn up a gun, but police found a 31‚Ñ2-foot-long alligator that was taken by animal control authorities.