Shawn Wilson appeals his conviction in boy's slaying

YOUNGSTOWN — Shawn Wilson, 21, of Youngstown is appealing his conviction and life prison sentence for fatally shooting a sleeping 8-year-old boy in the head with an assault rifle on the city’s East Side.

A lawyer for Wilson filed a notice of appeal today with the 7th District Court of Appeals.

Wilson drew a life prison sentence without parole from Judge R. Scott Krichbaum of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court in the 1:15 a.m. Aug. 20, 2012, death of Bryce Linebaugh in his Rockford Village apartment residence.

The appeal will likely allege that Judge Krichbaum improperly found Wilson competent to stand trial and that Wilson did not “knowingly, intelligently and voluntarily” enter his guilty plea, according to the notice filed by Atty. Edward J. Hartwig.

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