Trial dates set for 2 accused of murder, and one facing child pornography charges

YOUNGSTOWN — Two men charged in a homicide that occurred last month and a man facing child pornography charges pleaded innocent at their arraignments today before Judge Maureen A. Sweeney of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.

Albert E. Whitted III, 23, of East Boston Avenue, and Joseph Valentine, 21, of East Avondale Avenue, who remain jailed under $1 million bond each, were arraigned on charges of aggravated murder, murder, kidnapping and aggravated robbery.

Whitted and Valentine are charged in the death of Marlon Chatman, 28, who was shot twice in the leg after he admitted two men to a house in the 300 block of West Chalmers Avenue. Chatman died a short time later in St. Elizabeth Health Center.

William McCants, 42, of Garfield Street, who remains jailed under $400,000 bond, was arraigned on 50 counts of having sexually oriented material involving children.

They consist of 10 counts of illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material, 15 counts of pandering obscenity involving a minor, and 25 counts of pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor.

The jury trial of Valentin and Whitted is tentatively set to begin Aug. 23 before Judge R. Scott Krichbaum.

McCants’ jury trial is tentatively set to begin Sept. 13 before Judge James C. Evans.