Third home-invasion suspect enters guilty plea
By PETER H. MILLIKEN
YOUNGSTOWN
The third of four defendants facing charges stemming from a home invasion has pleaded guilty, and the fourth will have a status hearing on Thursday.
James D. Williams, 20, of Broadview Avenue, pleaded guilty to one count each of aggravated robbery and kidnapping in the Jan. 22, 2009, home invasion in the 100 block of Livingston Street, and the prosecution recommended a five-year prison term for him.
The homeowner told police he was watching TV with his girlfriend and a male friend when three intruders entered through an unlocked door.
The homeowner said two of the intruders were armed, ordered the home’s occupants to the floor and demanded money.
The woman was taken to the basement and raped, police reports said.
Williams entered his plea Monday before Judge Maureen A. Sweeney of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.
In the plea agreement, the prosecution dropped a rape charge, two counts each of aggravated robbery and aggravated burglary, and three counts of kidnapping, and the firearm specifications, and an unrelated cocaine possession charge.
Tamika Jones, 26, of Kendis Circle, had earlier pleaded guilty to receiving stolen property, referring to 10 cellular phones, a digital camera, a computer game and jewelry taken in the home invasion; and to possession of dangerous ordnance, referring to a sawed-off shotgun. A charge of being a felon with a gun that had been lodged against her was dropped.
Laneer R. McKinney, 18, of Fairmont Avenue, who was 17 when the invasion occurred and was bound over from juvenile court for adult proceedings, pleaded guilty earlier to one count each of aggravated robbery and kidnapping with gun specifications.
The prosecution dropped two counts each of aggravated robbery, kidnapping and aggravated burglary against him.
All three await sentencing and have agreed to testify against Lexter Williams, 29, of Kendis Circle, who still awaits trial and will have a status hearing at 9 a.m. Thursday. Lexter and James Williams are not related.
Lexter Williams is charged with four counts of kidnapping, three counts of aggravated robbery, two counts of aggravated burglary, and one count of rape with gun specifications, and being a felon with a gun.