Accomplice in murder case gets 7-year prison term

By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.

jgoodwin@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

A man convicted of kidnapping and robbery in connection with the murder of a city woman four years ago will spend the next seven years in prison.

Antwain Blackmon, 24, of Lake Drive appeared for sentencing Thursday before Judge John M. Durkin of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.

Blackmon was convicted of driving the car used to transport Sierra Y. Slaton, 19, of Vestal Road the night she was raped and killed by Antonio Jackson and Antwon Lanier.

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

Slaton was found floating in the lake at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 7, 2005.

Lanier, 26, has been sentenced to consecutive terms totaling 55 years to life in prison. Jackson, 28, has been sentenced to two consecutive life terms without any possibility of parole.

Jennifer McLaughlin-Smith, an assistant prosecutor, said Blackmon pleaded guilty to the crimes under a plea agreement in 2007, but sentencing had been held up because, under the agreement, he was to testify against Lanier and Jackson. She told the court Blackmon offered his cooperation even though both defendants were menacing and threatening toward witnesses.

“The state of Ohio did receive extensive cooperation from Mr. Blackmon in the prosecution of both Antonio Jackson and Antwon Lanier. He has been cooperative with us throughout,” she said.

McLaughlin-Smith said the state, based on Blackmon’s cooperation, would recommend a 10- year sentence on each charge to be served concurrently.

Blackmon told the court he was nervous and could not express his regret as strongly as he felt it but is sorry for all that took place the night of Slaton’s murder. He said he would have offered her protection if he could go back and do it over.

“I am sorry, so sorry. I would like to apologize for the whole situation that took place that night,” he said.

Atty. Lou DeFabio, representing Blackmon, said his client, in the four years since the murder, has gone back to school for his GED and has not been in any trouble.

DeFabio reminded the court that the case against Lanier and Jackson might have gone unsolved if not for his client’s cooperation. He asked the court for a sentence shorter than the 10 years recommended by the state.

Judge Durkin, before imposing a sentence, commended Blackmon on staying out of trouble in the years since the murder and his willingness to assist the state in the prosecution of Lanier and Jackson.

“You went above and beyond what most do in terms of your willingness to comply. Jackson and Lanier are some of the worst I have seen come through Mahoning County. These crimes very well may have gone unsolved without your willingness to cooperate,” he said.

Judge Durkin sentenced Blackmon to seven years on each of the two charges to be served concurrently. He also said judicial release would be considered if he maintains a clean prison record.