YOUNGSTOWN — The Mahoning County Prosecutor’s Office is opposing parole for three men in prison for Mahoning County killings. All three men are scheduled for a parole hearing this month, according to Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction records.

KENNETH MONCRIEF

In a letter to the Ohio Parole Board, the prosecutor’s office stated that it objects to the release from prison of Kenneth Moncrief, 41, who is serving time on murder related charges after being sentenced to 15 years to life for kidnapping and the murder of two men in Youngstown in 2009.

He pleaded guilty to seven offenses — two counts of murder, two counts of kidnapping, two counts of aggravated robbery and one count of arson.

On Aug. 11, 2009, Moncrief, along with his co-defendant, Lorenza Barnette, duct-taped two victims to chairs and suffocated them, the prosecutor’s office stated in a news release.

The victims’ bodies were found in a burning car on West Avenue near the Mahoning River. Moncrief also has 13 prison rule infractions from August 2013 to February 2022, with four of those occurring in the past 10 years, the release states.

“Due to the nature of Moncrief’s participation in the two murders, there is reason to believe (he) could continue to be a risk to public safety and wouldn’t be able to conform to societal laws and rules,” the release states.

“Moncrief’s infractions demonstrate a history of disobedience and an unwillingness to obey the institutions’ rules and regulations.”

JOHNNY LYNN

The Prosecutor’s Office also is objecting to the prison release of Johnny Lynn, 67, who is serving time on murder-related charges. His sentence is 15 years to life for his direct involvement in a 1996 murder, a news release states.

Lynn was convicted of aggravated murder following a jury trial. Lynn stabbed a woman on West Woodland Avenue in Youngstown on July 3, 1996. She later died from the injuries sustained in the stabbing, the release states. The attack was perpetrated over money during a drug deal. Police found Lynn in a nearby home with the murder weapon nearby.

While Lynn has been incarcerated, he’s had 18 prison rule infractions from May 2006 through March 2023, the release states. “Lynn has a long list of infractions from being in possession of another inmates’ belonging to possessing drugs,” it states.

“Lynn’s continuous actions underline his unwillingness to obey the institution’s rules and regulations,” the release states.

FRED ROBERTS

The prosecutor’s office also is objecting to the release of Fred Roberts, 56, who is serving a 20- to 50-year prison sentence for killing his mother and attempting to kill his father on May 2, 1993.

Roberts pleaded guilty to one count of involuntary manslaughter, one count of attempted murder and one count of failure to comply with an order or signal of a police officer.

During his incarceration, Roberts accumulated 18 rule violations between May 2006 and March 2023. His prison Institutional Summary Report highlights ongoing disciplinary problems and a pattern of disregarding prison rules, a news release from the prosecutor’s office states.

“In two separate incidents, Roberts conspired with an outside source to smuggle contraband into the facility,” it states.

Roberts has spent the majority of his incarceration classified as a Level 2 or Level 3 inmate. Within the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, these classifications reflect the degree of security risk posed by an inmate, the release states.

Level 2 inmates are considered medium security, requiring heightened supervision and restrictions due to behavioral concerns or the nature of their crimes. Level 3 inmates represent an even higher security risk, often requiring controlled movement within the facility, stricter housing assignments, and closer monitoring due to their history of violent conduct and serious infractions, the release explains.

“Roberts’ consistent placement in these higher security explains his ongoing threat to institutional safety and order,” it states.