A Bible and a hug: Woman tells defendant about the man he helped kill

Staff report

WARREN

Sarah Levels of Columbus, daughter of James Levels, wanted Tyler Meardith to know what kind of man died in front of him April 7, 2014, while he and Michael Settle were trying to commit a robbery.

Meardith, 24, of Leavittsburg, was later sentenced to 18 years in prison for his role in the robbery that killed Levels, 64, and wounded Levels’ friend, Lisa Prater, 49, at Prater’s South Street home.

“No matter who you were – family, friend or stranger – whenever you were in his presence, my father had the unique and amazing ability to make you feel as if you were the most important person in the room,” Sarah Levels said Wednesday in the courtroom of Judge W. Wyatt McKay.

“He was generous when he had nothing and always knew what to say if you were feeling low,” she continued.

“And, oh his hugs. With his broad shoulders and big, strong arms, he would wrap you tightly, and you would just know that you were loved and all is OK in your world, if just for that moment,” she said.

“I can’t tell you how badly we want to hug him just one more time. So it is imperative that this court and Tyler know how on the evening of April 7, 2014, a beautiful, good and kind soul was brutally taken from this world and from his loved ones.”

Meardith and two other co-defendants testified last week in the trial of Settle, 27, of Niles, who was eventually convicted of aggravated murder and other charges.

Meardith and Settle went into the house together, but when James Levels walked toward Settle while Settle pointed a gun at him, Settle fired three times at Levels’ chest, killing him. Settle also shot Prater two times, but she survived.

Meardith fled from the home shortly after the gunfire began. Meardith pleaded guilty in July to complicity to involuntary manslaughter, complicity to aggravated burglary, complicity to felonious assault and complicity to aggravated robbery.

Settle and two other co-defendants will be sentenced later.

Sarah Levels also handed members of the Meardith family her father’s Bible at the end of the hearing.

“If he were here today, he would tell you to get your education, to be strong, to stay hopeful and in your difficult journey ahead, to walk with God. So to help, if you would like, I want to offer you my father’s Bible. I believe he would want you to have it.”