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Sentence to run more than 2 decades
By John W. GOODWIN Jr.
YOUNGSTOWN
A 24-year-old city man will spend more than the next two decades behind bars for his role in a fatal shooting this past summer.
Albert E. Whitted III, of East Boston Avenue, appeared for sentencing Friday before Judge R. Scott Krichbaum of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.
Whitted earlier this year pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter with a gun specification and aggravated robbery. Prosecutors, under terms of a plea agreement, dropped murder and kidnapping charges.
Whitted and Joseph Valentin, 21, of East Avondale Avenue were 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 in early July. Chatman died a short time later in St. Elizabeth Health Center.
Jennifer McLaughlin, an assistant county prosecutor, said Whitted is believed to have been the actual shooter in the crime.
Whitted was facing a potential 23 years on the two felony crimes and the gun specification.
Prosecutors recommended a 21-year sentence, offering a small amount of leniency for Whitted’s willingness to cooperate with the state, but Judge Krichbaum was not so generous.
The judge told Whitted the court and society, in general, are not going to tolerate people who run around with guns and participate in violent crimes. Judge Krichbaum then sentenced Whitted to the maximum 23 years behind bars.
The victim’s father addressed the court before sentencing and asked the judge not to offer a slap on the wrist to the defendant. Judge Krichbaum explained that the 23-year sentence is the maximum the court can impose for the crimes to which Whitted pleaded guilty.
Earlier this year in a plea agreement, Valentin pleaded guilty to a charge of involuntary manslaughter and one count of kidnapping with a firearm specification. One count of murder and one count of robbery were dismissed.
Valentin could have been sentenced up to 23 years on the amended charges, but prosecutors recommended a 10-year prison sentence in exchange for Valentin’s plea. He was given a 10-year sentence and five years’ parole upon his release.