Death penalty trial in 2005 murder, rape to begin in Mahoning County

By Peter H. Milliken

YOUNGSTOWN — The Mahoning County Courthouse is scheduled for its third capital murder trial in less than four months.

The death penalty jury trial of Antonio Jackson is to begin Jan. 12 before Judge John M. Durkin of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.

Jackson, 28, of Summer Street, will go on trial for the Aug. 6, 2005, aggravated murder, aggravated robbery, kidnapping and rape of Sierra Y. Slaton, 19, of Vestal Road.

A co-defendant, Antwon Lanier, 25, of Mahoning County jail, is charged with committing the same crimes against Slaton. Lanier’s capital jury trial is to begin March 2 before Judge Durkin.

The prosecution alleges Slaton was raped in South Side Park before being taken to McKelvey Lake on the East Side, where she was shot multiple times in the head at point blank range and thrown in the water.

Slaton was found floating in McKelvey Lake at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 7, 2005.

The death penalty specifications say Slaton was killed while the other crimes were being committed against her and as part of a pattern of conduct in which two or more people were killed.

An orientation for between 90 and 100 prospective jurors for Jackson’s trial is set for Friday.

Beginning Jan. 12, prospective jurors will be interviewed by the lawyers and judge individually and out of earshot of other potential jurors until 12 jurors and four alternates are chosen.

Read the full story Monday in The Vindicator and on Vindy.com.