Ohio gang leader convicted of murder wants new trial

CLEVELAND (AP) — A Cleveland man who authorities say is a leader of Ohio’s fastest-growing criminal gang is asking for a new trial after being convicted of murder earlier this month.

Defense attorneys for Heartless Felons leader Julius Webster say an extreme amount of security during the trial gave jurors in the case an unfair image of Webster.

The 29-year-old faces 50 years in prison when he’s sentenced March 10. He has been in and out of prison for the past decade and was convicted in a separate case for his leadership role in the Heartless Felons.

The Plain Dealer newspaper reports the judge who oversaw the three-week trial had a SWAT team accompany the jury when they went to an area where authorities say the crimes took place.