Man pleads guilty in murder

STAFF REPORT

YOUNGSTOWN — Charles I. Jones, 30, of Lincoln Park Drive has pleaded guilty to murdering Waddell L. Casey, 29, and committing a felonious assault on another man.

He is likely to get a prison term of 18 years to life.

Casey, of Stewart Avenue, died after being shot in the head on a couch in his living room Oct. 30, 2006, police said.

Jones pleaded guilty Monday in the Mahoning County Common Pleas courtroom of Judge Maureen A. Sweeney to that crime and also to wounding Michael Faiola, 22, of Lynn Avenue, on the same day by shooting him in the thumb.

The agreement recommends putting Jones behind bars for 15 years to life for the murder and an additional three years for committing the crime with a gun.

The agreement calls for Casey to get eight years in prison for shooting Faiola but to serve that sentence at the same time as his murder sentence.

Jones’ attorney, Thomas Zena, arranged a lie-detector test for Jones, but Jones failed the test, Zena said.

The plea arrangement was worked out Monday, the day Jones was set to go on trial.

He’ll be sentenced at 8:45 a.m. July 1.