YOUNGSTOWN — A sentencing hearing that was scheduled for today for the man convicted in the Sept. 21, 2020, shooting death of Rowan Sweeney, 4, has been postponed.

The delay gives the expert witness for Brandon Crump Jr. time to review documents sought by his defense attorneys from the Youngstown City Schools, Mahoning County Children Services and Mahoning County Juvenile Court.

Crump, 21, was convicted in February of aggravated murder and 15 other charges related to the shootings of the boy and four adults at a home on Perry Street in Struthers.

A new sentencing date has not been set.

Crump’s attorney, Lou DeFabio, told Mahoning County Common Pleas Court Judge Anthony D’Apolito that Dr. Jessica Alpert, an expert witness, needs time to “conduct analysis and prepare a report relating to the defendant’s youth” in relation to Crump’s crimes.

Crump was 17 at the time of the shootings.

D’Apolito granted DeFabio’s request from March to hire an expert witness to review factors involving Crump’s youth at the time of the crimes, but because the expert witness also served as an expert witness for co-defendant Kimonie Bryant, another one was appointed May 9 for Crump.

After that, DeFabio filed motions in common pleas and juvenile court requesting the release of Crump’s juvenile court records, children services records and school records.

Alpert received the school and juvenile records, but not the children services records, the filing states.

“Each set of records is voluminous, and Dr. Alpert will need a reasonable amount of time to review the same and compile a report,” the filing states. Alpert contacted DeFabio on June 18 to notify him that more time would be needed, DeFabio stated. She will meet with Crump as part of the preparation of the report, the filing stated.

The judge approved canceling the sentencing hearing, according to court officials.

D’Apolito approved the hiring of the expert witness after DeFabio told him that the expert was needed to evaluate and testify, if necessary, on matters that include Crump’s age and its hallmark features when the crime was committed, intellectual capacity, his family home environment at the time of the crime, history of trauma and school history.

Because Crump was 17 at the time of the offenses, the judge is required to consider additional factors not necessary for adult offenders, according to the filing.

DeFabio cited an Ohio law that “codifies” rulings related to an offender’s youth, stating it “mandates that a trial court consider the offender’s family and home environment and other issues.”

Crump is one of three defendants convicted in the case. His was the one case that went to trial.

Bryant, 27, reached a plea agreement that called for a sentence of 20 years to life in prison, but prosecutors claim he failed to meet the requirements of his plea agreement by lying, and they want to argue for a longer sentence.

The other co-defendant, Andre McCoy Jr., 24, also reached a plea agreement that sentences him to 15 years to life in prison.

Crump and Bryant drove to a home on Perry Street to rob Yarnell Green Jr. of cash, prosecutors said. Bryant drove the car as Crump entered the house, shot all four adults inside and killed Rowan, then ran with the money, prosecutors said.

It’s not known whether the postponement of Crump’s case will affect hearing dates for the two other defendants.

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