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Three plead guilty in Belden homicide
By Joe Gorman
YOUNGSTOWN
The fiancee of a man killed Sept. 6 during an attempted robbery at his home said Monday the three men who pleaded guilty to the crime all deserve to serve maximum sentences.
Joanna Roman told Judge R. Scott Krichbaum in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court that she and the victim’s two children are still suffering. She said she was present when Daniel Sanford, 28, was killed at his Belden Avenue home, and she still has anxiety attacks and trouble sleeping since his death.
“They all tried to kill me,” Roman said.
The three men – Vincent Reber, 21, his brother Derrick Reber, 19, and Lorenzo Hilton, 26 – all pleaded guilty Monday to charges of aggravated robbery and aggravated murder in the death of Sanford. Derrick Reber and Hilton also pleaded guilty to additional charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm. They all received sentences of 20 years to life, which were agreed to between defense attorneys and prosecutors.
The pleas headed off a trial for the three men that was to begin Monday with jury selection.
Roman spoke when Derrick Reber was sentenced. He was the first of the three to have his case disposed of.
In 2014, Derrick Reber was branded with a snuff can by four adults in Struthers, all of whom pleaded guilty in the case. He suffered third-degree burns and had skin-graft surgery to heal the open wounds. He also had a blood infection that could have resulted in death had it gone untreated, according to police reports.
Roman said the three did not have a good reputation, and she and Sanford had moved away without telling them because he did not want the three to find him.
Roman said Sanford’s two children also are having a difficult time coping with their father’s death.
“They are still grieving,” Roman said. “They killed a very good man.”
Police said the three went to the home to rob Sanford of money and marijuana, but a shootout broke out instead. Sanford was killed and Hilton and Vincent Reber both were wounded. Hilton is still on crutches. Derrick Reber drove his brother and Hilton to ValleyCare Trumbull Memorial Hospital with gunshot wounds, and the two claimed to have been shot in Warren. Warren police were contacted, who in turn contacted Youngstown police, and they were able to link them to Sanford’s death.
Vincent Reber was arrested at a hotel at the Pittsburgh Airport by U.S. marshals. Police said he had planned to go to Miami before he was caught.
Derrick Reber declined to say anything before he was sentenced. Hilton apologized to Sanford’s family, saying he understood their anger.
“I would feel the same way,” Hilton said.
Vincent Reber also said through tears he was sorry.
“I will pay for what I did,” he said.
Judge Krichbaum said he agreed to uphold the sentencing recommendations because all three defendants took responsibility for their actions.
“That’s truly the first step toward rehabilitation,” Judge Krichbaum told Derrick Reber.