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Man released from prison after being behind bars for more than 11 years
By JOE GORMAN
YOUNGSTOWN
Tears in a courtroom are a common thing, but the ones that flowed Tuesday in the courtroom of Judge Lou D’Apolito in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court were tears of joy.
The tears came from the family of Keylan Davis, 28, who was granted early release from prison after spending more than 11 years behind bars for a spate of crimes when he was 17 in 2006.
When the judge agreed to allow Davis to leave prison and be placed with Community Corrections Association on Market Street until he can get a job and become readjusted to society, members of Davis’ family in the courtroom broke out crying.
In 2008, Davis was sentenced to 14 years in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of aggravated robbery, one count of felonious assault and complicity to commit aggravated robbery and felonious assault, all with firearm specifications.
He has availed himself of several programs in prison, said his lawyer, J. Gerald Ingram. Davis received his General Educational Development diploma, took college classes from Xavier University, and earned the required certificates to work several jobs when he is released, including tutoring, which Ingram said Davis wants to do so he can tutor young men and tell them to avoid the pitfalls he experienced that led to his incarceration.
Davis apologized to his victims from 2006. One of them, restaurateur Charlie Staples, was in the courtroom.
“If he’s a changed man, he’s a changed man,” Staples said. “I don’t mind him coming in my restaurant.”
“I made such horrible decisions 11 years ago,” Davis said. “There hasn’t been a day I haven’t thought about it. I took advantage of my time. I’m ready for the opportunity, your honor.”
Judge D’Apolito said typically in a case such as Davis’ he would not grant judicial release because of the severity of the crimes. But because of an error in law when Davis entered his pleas, Judge D’Apolito said he decided Fields should receive early release.
The charges to which Davis entered guilty pleas are not eligible for judicial release. But because Davis was never told that at the time, and entered into the plea believing he was eligible for early release, he could ask to have his plea voided, and that would send the case back to the court for a trial.