YOUNGSTOWN — Mahoning County Juvenile Court Judge Theresa Dellick found probable cause that Jacoby M. Walker, 19, committed the aggravated murder of Isiah J. Helms, 22, in 2022, when Walker was 16.

The judge bound over Walker’s case to the adult-level Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.

The judge held a probable cause hearing Sept. 4 in juvenile court during which evidence was presented through Anissa Modarelli, assistant county prosecutor; and John Shultz, Walker’s attorney, according to a judgment entry Dellick signed Monday.

Detective Michael Cox of the Youngstown Police Department gave testimony related to his investigation into Helms’ slaying during the hearing.

In addition to aggravated murder, which has a firearm specification, Walker is charged with felony tampering with evidence and misdemeanor abuse of a corpse.

Because of Walker’s age at the time of the offense and the type of offense involved, the case was a “mandatory transfer” to adult court as long as Judge Dellick found probable cause that Walker committed aggravated murder, the judge’s entry states.

The judge set Jacoby’s bond at $500,000. He has been in the Mahoning County jail since May 12, according to jail records.

Walker was wanted on a warrant out of the juvenile court, but he remained free until he was involved in a crash on Interstate 680 near Market Street in Youngstown on May 12 and officers discovered he had an aggravated murder warrant and took him into custody.

Authorities have said Helms was shot in a Lilburn Avenue home on the East Side. His body was found Feb. 2, 2022, at Mount Hope Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 1945 Liberty Road, using information provided by the public and through an investigation by police, according to a Youngstown Police Department news release.

Helms was last seen leaving his Plaza View Court apartment on the East Side just before 3 a.m. Jan. 30, 2022.

Two other men already have been sentenced for their roles in the case.

Jamiyah M. Brooks, 20, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter with a gun specification and tampering with evidence March 13. Brooks, who was 18 at the time of the offenses, was sentenced to 17 to 22.5 years in prison.

Nathaniel Austin Jr., 35, of Idora Avenue, pleaded guilty to tampering with evidence the same day as Brooks’ plea. He was sentenced to three years in prison.

Mahoning County Assistant Prosecutor Patrick Fening said March 13 that Helms was killed on the back porch of the home where Brooks lived on Lilburn Avenue. Helms died from gunshot wounds, according to the Mahoning County Coroner’s Office.