Selection of jury to begin in ’05 case

Youngstown man faces capital charges

STAFF REPORT

YOUNGS-TOWN — Jurors will be selected this week for the capital murder trial of Antonio Jackson in the Aug. 6, 2005, death of Sierra Y. Slaton, whose body was found floating in McKelvey Lake the day after she died.

Jackson, 28, of Summer Street, is charged with the aggravated murder, aggravated robbery, kidnaping and rape of Slaton, 19, of Vestal Road.

Some 110 prospective jurors underwent an orientation Friday for Jackson’s trial, which is before Judge John M. Durkin of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.

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

If the jury convicts Jackson of any of the death specifications, the same jurors will return at a later date to hear testimony concerning what penalty should be imposed and to recommend a life or death sentence.

Prosecuting the case are Dawn Cantalamessa and Jennifer McLaughlin, assistant county prosecutors. The defense lawyers are John B. Juhasz and Lynn Maro.

A co-defendant, Antwon Lanier, 25, of the Mahoning County jail, is charged with committing the same crimes against Slaton as Jackson. Lanier’s capital jury trial is to begin May 4 before Judge Durkin.

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

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.

Later this year, Jackson will face his second capital jury trial before Judge Durkin in the Nov. 20, 2005, drowning death of another woman, Tahnee Jackson (no relation), 29, of Cassius Street.