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WARREN -- A Youngstown man will spend an indefinite amount of time in prison after being convicted in the April 15 shooting of a pizza delivery driver in Liberty.
Jermaine D. Stroughter Jr., 22, of Dickson Street, pleaded guilty to charges of aggravated robbery, felonious assault and kidnapping, each with firearm specifications.
Trumbull County Common Pleas Judge Ronald J. Rice determined that consecutive sentences were necessary because of the seriousness of the crime and to protect the public. He gave Stroughter a sentence totaling 18- to 23-and-1/2 years in prison.
Defense attorney Heather Ninni noted that Stroughter just became the father of twins and the babies will be adults by the time he is released from prison.
According to Assistant Prosecutor Charles Morrow, a pizza delivery driver was bringing a pie to an apparent bogus address when he was confronted by Stroughter and a co-defendant. The driver was robbed of money -- but not of the pizza -- and thrown into the assailants' car. They then brought him out of the car and made him lie on the ground and before the assailants fled, the driver was shot in the back.
Stroughter told the judge he was sorry for what happened, but when questioned why he would shoot somebody, the defendant answered: "There were other issues, and I just shot him."
The victim managed to drive back to the pizza shop and was taken to the hospital by another employee. He suffered injuries that were not life threatening, but was not in court Thursday to deliver an impact statement.
Ninni said her client grew up in Columbus and moved to Youngstown and was surrounded by crime his whole life. She said Stroughter had been treated for mental health issues.
As a violent offender, Stroughter -- after his release from prison -- will have to register at the sheriff's office, Rice said. Stroughter, who has been in jail since April 27, was given a mandatory three-year prison sentence because a gun was involved in the crime.
The co-defendant, Tre Vaughn Powell, 23, of Alameda Avenue, Youngstown, faces the same three felony charges as Stroughter. Court records show Powell, who was arrested April 29, after the federal marshals' office received a tip, faces a hearing to suppress evidence Dec. 3 before Trumbull Common Pleas Judge Peter J. Kontos.
Liberty police Chief Toby Meloro said he is pleased the case is about to be wrapped up.
"Solving a shooting is a big thing around here," Meloro said. "Our detectives did a fabulous job working this case."