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2 plead not guilty to murder charges
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Kenneth Moncrief
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Joseph Moreland
YOUNGSTOWN
Two men accused of murder have pleaded not guilty in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court but remain held in the Mahoning County Justice Center.
Joseph Moreland, 28, whose address is listed as the county jail, and Kenneth Moncrief, 26, of Fairgreen Avenue, both appeared Tuesday before Magistrate Timothy Welsh on charges of aggravated murder, kidnapping, aggravated robbery and arson. The aggravated-murder charges carry a possible death sentence.
The charges against Moreland and Moncrief stem from the deaths of Jaron L. Roland, 20, of Fairmont Avenue, and Darry B. Woods-Burt Jr., 19, of the city’s North Side. The victims, who were described by family members at the time as inseparable first cousins, were found inside a burning car on West Avenue near the Mahoning River in August 2009. Both men were bound with duct tape, and bags had been placed over their heads.
Moreland, represented by Atty. Lou DeFabio at arraignment, stood before the judge wearing shackles and the county-issued orange jumpsuit. He told the judge he has not worked in about a year and would need to be appointed an attorney. DeFabio was appointed.
Moreland pleaded not guilty to all charges and was ordered held without bond until trial. The trial is scheduled for Monday before Judge Maureen Sweeney, Mahoning County Court of Common Pleas.
Moncrief, represented by Atty. Thomas Zena at arraignment, also wore shackles and a jumpsuit. He told the court he had been employed up until last week and also would need an attorney.
Moncrief also pleaded not guilty to all charges and was ordered held until trial. His trial date also is set for Monday.
Moreland also is facing murder charges in a separate case.
Moreland is charged with aggravated murder and robbery in the shooting death of Brian Greer, 32, of Republic Avenue, who was killed March 29 on Lauderdale Avenue.
Witnesses told police someone drove past the Lauderdale residence firing at the house. Greer was shot once in the head and multiple times in the body and was pronounced dead at St. Elizabeth Health Center.
Moreland pleaded not guilty to those charges as well.