Mahoning County judge denies defendant's motion

YOUNGSTOWN — A judge denied a request by a defendant in a murder case to have prosecutors enforce a plea agreement he says he made in order to give them a statement.

Judge John Durkin of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court said today that he could not enforce the plea agreement Reginald Whitfield, 23, of East Lucius Avenue thought he made. Even though attorneys on both sides discussed a possible plea deal several times, it was never put on the record in open court, the judge said.

Judge Durkin said according to Ohio law, any plea agreement must be put on the record in order to be valid.

Whitfield is one of two men accused of killing Michael Abighanem, 27, of Thalia Street, who was shot after he and a friend went to a house on Silliman Street around 4:30 p.m. April 27, 2012, so Abighanem could sell a video-game system and a laptop computer.

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