Prosecution witnesses testify in murder trial
By John W. GOODWIN JR.
YOUNGSTOWN
The second day of testimony in a murder trial here included a list of witnesses who told the court Melvin Dixon is the man who shot and killed Edward Agee four years ago.
Dixon, 27, of Devon Avenue, is charged with aggravated murder and aggravated robbery with a gun specification in the death of Agee, 52, of Star Street.
He is on trial before Judge Lou D’Apolito of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court. Dixon does not face the death penalty.
On May 2, 2006, Agee, a clerk at the Auto Zone store on McCartney Road, was shot and killed when three men wearing Halloween-style masks entered the store as part of a robbery attempt.
Martin Desmond, an assistant county prosecutor, called Dixon’s former girlfriend and mother of his child to the witness stand Wednesday morning.
The woman told the court that shortly after the Auto Zone crime, Dixon told her he had been involved in the crime, but she said he did not say he was the shooter.
Atty. James Gentile, representing Dixon, pointed out through cross-examination that Dixon’s former girlfriend felt threatened with the loss of her child if she did not offer police information.
Prosecutors also called to the witness stand John Patterson, who was listed as a friend of Dixon’s. Patterson is serving time for bank robbery. The 29-year-old man entered the court wearing an orange county-issued jumpsuit with leg shackles and handcuffs.
Patterson told the court he knows Dixon from living in the same neighborhood but had known him only for a short period of time before the slaying and attempted robbery at Auto Zone. He said he and Dixon had been riding in a car together to buy auto parts when Dixon confessed his role in the murder.
Patterson said he pulled into the parking lot of a South Side Auto Zone a few months after the murder at the East Side store. He said Dixon refused to go into the store then later said he could not go into the store because he was responsible for the East Side murder.
On cross-examination, Gentile questioned the accuracy of Patterson’s statements made to FBI agents after the alleged confession from Dixon and the length of time Patterson knew Dixon before Dixon allegedly made such an important confession.
Patterson acknowledged that he is testifying against Dixon in expectation of leniency in his sentence for bank robbery.
Jamaad Jackson, a co-defendant, also testified against Dixon. Jackson also entered the courtroom wearing the orange jumpsuit and shackles.
Jackson, 21, of Wychwood Lane, Youngstown, has pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter (amended from aggravated murder), aggravated robbery and a gun specification. Prosecutors are recommending a nine-year prison sentence.
Jackson told the court he had in fact struggled with Agee over the gun he was carrying when he, Dixon and 23-year-old Reginald Everson entered the Auto Zone store.
He said that during the struggle, Dixon shot Agee in the head with a .25-caliber handgun.
On cross-examination, Gentile pointed out various inconsistencies between statements Jackson made to authorities shortly after the murder and statements offered in court now.
Jackson said he was afraid at the initial time of his arrest, but Gentile asked how could he be afraid at the time of his arrest and not afraid to don a mask, arm himself and enter the Auto Zone store.
Gentile also pointed out that Jackson’s plea agreement reduces his potential jail sentence from a possible life sentence to 23 years in prison at most.
Everson, 23, of West Chalmers Avenue, had been charged with murder and aggravated robbery in the case. The murder charge and a gun specification were dropped under a plea agreement. Everson pleaded guilty to the remaining charge of aggravated robbery. Prosecutors are recommending a sentence of eight to 10 years in prison. He also is expected to testify against Dixon.