Mahoning prosecutor fights prison-time reduction for shooter of Joe Kaluza

YOUNGSTOWN — The Mahoning County prosecutor’s office is asking the Ohio Supreme Court to block a 17-year reduction of Taran Helms’ 50-year prison term for shooting and paralyzing KFC manager Joe Kaluza.

The reduction, which would cut Helms’ sentence down to 33 years, was ordered Sept. 29 by the 7th District Court of Appeals, which upheld Helms’ convictions, but ordered him re-sentenced.

In September 2008, a jury convicted Helms, 25, of East Judson Avenue, of attempted murder, felonious assault, aggravated robbery and kidnapping, with firearm specifications, in the March 24, 2008, assault on Kaluza.

Judge Timothy E. Franken of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court imposed maximum consecutive sentences totaling 50 years on Helms and his accomplice, Hattie Gilbert, 22, also of East Judson Avenue.

The appeals panel majority ruled that Judge Franken should have merged Helms’ attempted murder and felonious assault convictions for sentencing purposes because it said Helms committed those crimes simultaneously.

For the complete story, read Wednesday's Vindicator and Vindy.com