YOUNGSTOWN — The murder trial of Jonthony Altreche, 21, that was set for Monday did not go forward because of Altreche saying he wanted a new lawyer.

On Monday, Altreche’s then-lawyer, Mark Lavelle, told Mahoning County Common Pleas Court Judge Maureen Sweeney that Altreche told him Saturday he was dissatisfied with Lavelle’s work on the case.

Lavelle said he met with Altreche Saturday at the Mahoning County jail and “expressed his desire to have me off of the case. I endorse that desire strongly. I don’t think I can effectively represent him going forward after the discussion we had on Saturday.”

Lavelle said he notified Sweeney’s court on Saturday of “that impasse.” Lavelle, who was appointed to Altreche’s case, is the second attorney who has represented Altreche.

“Mr. Altreche, how many lawyers do you think you are entitled to?” Sweeney asked him. Altreche responded that he did not think Lavelle was doing the job correctly.

“I don’t know anyone who does better,” Sweeney said. “You are looking at life without parole if you are convicted of all your crimes, plus 10 years. Do you understand that?

“Yes, Maam,” he said.

Sweeney said she would allow Lavelle to withdraw from the case and asked if Altreche was going to hire a lawyer or needed another one appointed.

Altreche said he would hire one. Sweeney told him he has seven days to secure a new lawyer. A pretrial hearing was set for the case at 10:30 a.m. Feb. 17.

Mahoning County Assistant Prosecutor Rob Andrews said, “Just for the record, the State’s last offer was 18 (years in prison) to life, pleading to the murder charge. He said that offer is “now withdrawn.”

MISS DAISY’S PLACE

Altreche was indicted on charges of murder, two gun specifications, illegal possession of a firearm in a liquor permit premises, failure to comply with the order of a police officer and cocaine possession with specification of forfeiture of money in a drug case in the Dec. 10, 2023, shooting death of Ty’Rice Logan, 26, who was found near the sidewalk in front of Miss Daisy’s Place on South Avenue near Pasadena Avenue.

Police said Logan’s body was found near the sidewalk outside of Miss Daisy’s Place at 4:41 a.m. with multiple gunshot wounds.

At Altreche’s arraignment in Youngstown Municipal Court in March 2024, Youngstown Assistant Prosecutor Shaina Rochford asked a magistrate to set a high bond for Altreche because of him “being on video shooting the victim.”

The failure to comply and cocaine possession relate to Altreche’s arrest on the murder charge.

According to a Youngstown Police Department news release, officers with its Neighborhood Response Unit arrested Altreche on Feb. 3, 2024, on the South Side after seeing him in a black BMW committing a traffic violation on or near Wilson Avenue.

While attempting to make the traffic stop on the vehicle, a short pursuit took place and ended in a crash without injuries. During the pursuit, Altreche’s vehicle collided with another automobile, according to a police report.