New indictments issued in murder cases

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

A Mahoning County grand jury issued new indictments in two separate murder cases Thursday.

Paul Kerr, 48, whose address is listed as the county jail, was indicted on charges of aggravated murder and being a felon in possession of a firearm in the Sept. 30, 2014, shooting death of Lenzie Morgan, 49, inside Morgan's home in the 2000 block of Shady Run Road after the two argued over Morgan’s wife, police said.

Kerr was on the run for several weeks before he finally was captured in October in Lawrence County across the state line in Pennsylvania.

Kerr originally was indicted on a charge of attempted murder while he was on the run. He was in custody before Morgan died.

Also issued a new indictment on charges of aggravated murder, murder, three counts of aggravated robbery, two counts of carrying a concealed weapon and felonious assault was Larry McDonald, 19, of Truman Avenue.

McDonald is accused in the Nov. 19 murder of Abdullah Nagi Mahdi, 29, at Reemas Fashions store at 2608 South Ave. Additional robbery charges were tacked on for a robbery the night before at a store Mahdi owned on South Avenue.

All the charges carry firearms specifications.

Police say Mahdi was killed during an attempted robbery, but he managed to shoot McDonald before he died. McDonald was in the hospital for several days before he was taken to the jail.

The grand jury also indicted four people in the shooting of a home in the 2200 block of Elm Trace on Feb. 13. No one was hurt, but several people were inside the home.

Indicted on eight counts of felonious assault was Israel Roman IV, 17, of Cordova Avenue; Carlos Lujano, 19, of Logan Avenue Northeast, Warren; Christopher Roman, 20, of Hayes Street in McDonald; and Hanna Schneider, 25, also of Hayes Street in McDonald.

Roman faces additional charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

The grand jury also indicted the following:

Brad M. Walker, 21, East Auburndale Avenue, new indictment, possession of a dangerous drug.

Victor M. Thomas, 35, Erie Street, Boardman, failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer, tampering with evidence, being a felon in possession of a firearm, improperly handling a firearm in a motor vehicle, possession of cocaine and possession of drugs.

Jennifer A. Digiantonio, 28, Overbrook Drive, Canfield, two counts of receiving stolen property and two counts of forgery.

John S. Probst IV, 21, Clifton Drive, deception to obtain a dangerous drug.

Jentell J.M. Reid, 27, McBride Street, theft.

Derek Watson, 29, Vestal Road, receiving stolen property and possessing criminal tools.

Lewis Valentino, 28, Stadler Avenue, Boardman, domestic violence.

Jason L. Womack, 29, Forestview Avenue, receiving stolen property.

Demond Williams, 40, Garfield Avenue, possession of drugs and possession of drugs with forfeiture specifications.

Charles Caldwell IV, 33, Lake Park Boulevard, Sebring, illegal assembly or possession of chemicals for the manufacture of drugs, domestic violence and illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia.

Richard B. Parks, 41, Penny Lane, Austintown, possession of heroin.

Jawon L. Williams, 22, Lakewood Avenue, possession of cocaine.

Sean P. Hilbert, 23, Canfield Road, Canfield, breaking and entering and possession of criminal tools.

Sammy F. Anderson Jr., 19, South Raccoon Road, Austintown, aggravated robbery with a firearm specification.

Robert Barrett, 30, Andrews Avenue, receiving stolen property.

Michael Maynard, 34, Poland Avenue, Struthers, direct presentment, receiving stolen property and forgery.

Felicia Thorpe, 46, Creed Street, Struthers, direct presentment, passing bad checks.

Jennifer Gallaugher, 32, South Avenue, direct presentment, illegal conveyance of prohibited items onto the grounds of a detention facility and three counts of possession of drugs.

Ismael A. Prince, 35, Wakefield Avenue, direct presentment, rape, two counts of gross sexual imposition and public indecency.