Deal gets man out of aggravated murder charges

YOUNGSTOWN — A city man accused of several felonies, including two counts of aggravated murder, has agreed to a deal with the state that would land him in prison for four years.

Derrick Veal, 21, of Toledo, formerly of Youngstown, had been charged with two counts of aggravated murder, aggravated robbery and felonious assault. He has agreed to plead to illegally possessing a weapon and a firearm specification.

Prosecutors have agreed to recommend a sentence of three years for Veal. There will also be a one-year sentence for the gun charge that will be served consecutive to the three-year recommended sentence. Veal would also get credit for the time he has spent in the Mahoning county Jail.

Veal reached the agreement with prosecutors in the courtroom of Judge Maureen Sweeney, Mahoning County Common Pleas Court. He is represented by Atty. J. Gerald Ingram.

The deal is contingent upon Veal testifying against James E. Steward III, 17, of Thornton Avenue, who was indicted on the same charges initially lodged against Veal.

For more on this story see Wednesday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com.