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Man gets 7 years in shooting death
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
YOUNGSTOWN
A city man will spend the next seven years in prison for his role in the first homicide in the city this year.
Jerrell R. Womack, 20, of Oak Street, appeared for sentencing before Judge R. Scott Krichbaum of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court. A co-defendant in the case, Sheridan L. Tubbs, 21, of Silliman Street, was sentenced to five years in prison last week.
Tubbs and Womack were charged in the death of Dene R. Montgomery, 30, of Wesley Avenue, who was shot in the back of the head in the living room of a Lora Avenue home Jan. 2.
Womack initially was charged with murder but pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of involuntary manslaughter in a plea agreement with prosecutors. Prosecutors, under that agreement, recommended a four-year prison sentence. Prosecutors also recommended three additional years in prison because Womack used a gun in the crime.
Atty. Mark Hockensmith, an assistant county prosecutor, explained to the court that the plea deal was made because there is evidence to suggest Montgomery went to the house to sell Womack and Tubbs drugs. He also said there was evidence to suggest Montgomery fired the first shot, which could lead to a claim of self- defense.
Deborah Montgomery, the victim’s mother, told the court her son was lured to the home and executed.
“How can it be involuntary when he was lured to the house and shot in the back of the head. That’s murder,” she said. “I would just ask that he would get the maximum, which is 10 years.”
Martina Montgomery, the victim’s wife, told the court she still wakes up at night calling out for her slain husband and can’t bring herself to erase text messages sent to her while he was still alive. She said she hopes Womack sees her husband’s face and hears his voice every time he closes his eyes.
“I pray that it drives him almost insane because that is what it does to me,” she said.
Womack, represented by Atty. James Gentile, addressed the court before his sentencing. He offered condolences to the victim’s family but said the situation was one of self-defense, so he “did what I had to do” he told the court.
“I suffer every day knowing I took somebody’s life. I ain’t proud of it,” he said.
Womack’s mother addressed the court before his sentencing and asked for a lighter sentence for her son because he was defending himself against a larger, armed man.
Judge Krichbaum, before handing down the sentence, spoke about how tragic the situation is for both families.
“This is indicative to some Wild West shootout. ... Everybody involved in this thing was up to no good,” the judge said. “This type of thing happens far too often.”
Ultimately, the judge accepted the prosecutors’ recommendation of four years in prison and a three year prison term for the use of the gun.
Womack will receive credit for the 161 days he has spent in the county jail.