Brothers enter guilty pleas in 2014 murder case

YOUNGSTOWN — Two of three men charged with a murder in April 2014 entered guilty pleas today in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.

Brothers Breandre Allen, 28 and Bralin Allen, 29, entered guilty pleas to charges of voluntary manslaughter and felonious assault with firearm specifications.

They are accused of killing Maurise Kerns, 24, who was found shot to death about 3 a.m. April 1, 2014, on the front porch of a vacant home in the 500 block of Idora Avenue.

A third defendant, Michael Wilkins, 24, has refused to take a plea bargain.

Police said Kerns was lured to the home by a woman and killed because he shot one of the Allen brothers in the head weeks before.

Defense attorneys and prosecutors have agreed on a sentence of 20 years for Breandre Allen and 15 years for Bralin Allen.

Trials for all three were scheduled to begin today.

A sentencing date has not been set yet.