Lanier guilty of complicity to murder; also rape

YOUNGSTOWN — A jury has found Antwon Lanier guilty of complicity to the murder, aggravated robbery and kidnapping of Sierra Y. Slaton, whose body was found floating in McKelvey Lake almost four years ago.

Lanier was also found guilty of raping Slaton.

The six man, six woman jury returned its verdict this afternoon before Judge John M. Durkin of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court after 15 hours of deliberations over two days.

The coroner ruled Slaton died of multiple gunshot wounds to the head on Aug. 6, 2005, the day before her body was found in the lake.

The prosecution alleged that Lanier, 25, of Mahoning County jail, and his co-defendant Antonio Jackson, 28, of Summers Street, raped Slaton in South Side Park before Jackson shot her on the shore of McKelvey Lake and dumped her in the water.

Lanier could get up to 45 years in prison when he is sentenced at 9 a.m. Tuesday.

Jackson’s trial is set to begin Oct. 16.