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Brothers plead guilty to felonies

YOUNGSTOWN — Brothers Larry A. Smith, 18, and Deandre L. Smith, 19, pleaded guilty Monday to multiple felony offenses for a Sept. 7 incident that led to a chase and lockdown at Poland Seminary High School.

Struthers police tried to make a traffic stop on the Smiths’ vehicle near Sami Quick Stop on Youngstown Poland Road when Dandre Smith fled in the vehicle. Larry Smith was a passenger.

The chase continued into Poland, where a soccer game was taking place at the high school. The chase led authorities to order a lockdown at the soccer game.

The Smiths’ vehicle eventually hit another car containing a woman and child and then hit a guardrail just south of the school. The woman and child were taken to the hospital for minor injuries.

There was a short foot chase after the crash, and the Smiths were taken into custody. They also were taken to the hospital for possible injuries. Both men had a firearm.

They were indicted on improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle, inducing panic and other offenses, but both pleaded guilty to reduced charges Monday and will be sentenced later.

Deandre Smith pleaded guilty to failure to comply with the orders of a police officer, vehicular assault, improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle and obstructing official business and a gun specification.

Larry Smith pleaded guilty to improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle, obstructing official business and a gun specification.

Deandre Smith could get up to 9 1/2 years in prison when he is sentenced in February. Larry Smith could get up to 3 1/2 years in prison when he is sentenced later.

Assistant Prosecutor Michael Rich told Judge R. Scott Krichbaum that he is recommending that both Smiths get an unspecified amount of prison time in addition to the one year each man must serve as a result of pleading guilty to a gun specification.

Before the hearing, both men were ordered to wear jail jumpsuits during the hearing for violating the judge’s requirement that they come to court appropriately dressed. In their case, both wore jeans to court, which are prohibited.

At the end of the hearing, Krichbaum revoked bond for both and ordered them held in the Mahoning County jail until their sentencing. The address for both men was the Mahoning County jail in their indictments.

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