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Liberty woman gets probation

Attorney: She is trying to change her lifestyle

By Guy Vogrin 2 min read

WARREN -- A Liberty woman, who had been accused of harboring a murder suspect at her apartment in February 2020, on Wednesday received probation on a separate conviction on drug-possession charges.

Jasmine M. Jackson, 25, of 1465 Townsend Ave., Apt. 6, Liberty, appeared with attorney Thomas Zena before Trumbull County Common Pleas Judge W. Wyatt McKay.

Zena asked for leniency for the woman, who had served a successful term in the Northeast Ohio Community Alternative Program as a result of her probation sentence for an obstruction felony connected to the Feb. 11, 2020, arrest of murder suspect Robert L. Shelton.

"She had drug issues, and she is now living with her grandmother in Youngstown staying away from her former lifestyle. She now has a job doing hair," Zena told McKay.

Prosecutors said drugs were found in Jackson's Townsend Avenue apartment by federal marshals who came there to arrest Shelton, 46, who was accused of shooting to death Dymond D. Ortello, 34, outside of the Brothers of Power Classic Cars Club on Logan Avenue Feb. 9, 2020.

At the time of Shelton's arrest, Jackson did not answer the door, telling the feds to "get a warrant."

Prosecutors said Liberty police later found substances that tested to be 16.23 grams of fentanyl, 11.5 grams of methadone and 1.1 gram of cocaine. The raid on the apartment also netted $4,878 in cash, which was forfeited.

A charge of possession of LSD against Jackson was dismissed as part of the plea arrangement.

Jackson, who faced a possible 10-year prison sentence, was fined $5,000 and faces five years of supervision by the Trumbull County Adult Probation Department.

Court records show Shelton, who is facing charges of aggravated murder, possession of drugs, possessing weapons under restrictions and tampering with evidence, is scheduled for a Sept. 13 jury trial in the courtroom of Mahoning County Common Pleas Judge Maureen Sweeney.

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