Displaying items by tag: Summit County Prosecutors Office

Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh has announced a free women's self defense class at Nordonia High School next week.

See more info below: 

In the wake of Monday's search for missing 2-year-old Kaven Fisher, Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh is reminding residents about their "Take Me Home" program.

It's a countywide initiative meant to support residents with difficulty communicating, such as Kaven who has autism and is non-verbal. The program consists of an easily seachable database that provides law enforcement defining characteristics of individuals who meet certain criteria.

See more from the Prosecutor's Office below: 

(Summit Co. Prosecutor) The Take Me Home program is a countywide initiative to support individuals with communication difficulties and their families. The integral component of the program is a database of individuals with disabilities that impact their ability to communicate. The database is only accessible to law enforcement personnel. 

Should an individual become lost or separated from caregivers, law enforcement personnel can search the database by inputting the individual’s name, phone number or physical characteristics in the hopes of learning their identity and thus reuniting them with their family or caregivers. 

Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh and Sheriff Drew Alexander announced the initiative in April 2007 at a park where a five-year-old child with autism had gotten lost a year before. The child was unable to communicate his name or address to law enforcement officers. 

That troubling incident, however, highlighted the challenge that law enforcement personnel and parents face when individuals with disabilities become lost. The Greater Akron Chapter of the Autism Society of America brought the Take Me Home program to the attention of Prosecutor Walsh. Bob Haren, the grandparent of a child with autism, brought it to the attention of the Sheriff's Office. A partnership was formed.

(Summit County Prosecutor's Office) Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh is today relaunching an anti-drunk driving campaign to help keep Summit County roads safe during the Thanksgiving holiday by providing free rides for people who’ve had too much alcohol to drink.

Arrive Alive provides free rides home up to a $65 dollar fare for anyone in Summit County who has had too much to drink while celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday.

WHAT: FREE Cab Rides for Summit County Residents for the Thanksgiving Holiday (up to $65)

WHEN: From 6pm Wednesday November 21 to 6am Sunday November 25

HOW: Call 330.475.7888

“Thanksgiving is a time for friends and families to get together and have fun. Driving drunk should not be part of the celebrations. As Summit County Prosecutor my mission is to help keep our streets safe,” said Prosecutor Walsh. “Thanksgiving Eve is typically one of the top days of the year for drinking alcohol. I want to make sure the holiday season does not begin with tragedy. I would like to thank our sponsors the law firms of Slater & Zurz, Kisling Nestico & Redick, Elk & Elk, and Bevan and Associates, as well as the participating taxi companies, Rides 4 Less Taxi and City Yellow Cab, for their support in this effort.”

Summit County residents who need a ride home because they’ve had too much to drink can call 330.475.7888. The program runs from 6pm on Wednesday November 21, 2018 through 6am Sunday November 25, 2018.

(SCPO) Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh announced today a new anti-drunk driving campaign to help keep Summit County roads safe by providing free rides for the July 4th holiday for people who’ve had too much alcohol to drink.

Arrive Alive provides free rides up to a $65 dollar fare for anyone in Summit County who has had too much to drink while celebrating the July 4th holiday.

WHAT: FREE Cab Rides for Summit County Residents for the July 4th Holiday (up to $65)

WHEN: From 6pm Tuesday July 3 to 6am Thursday July 5

HOW: Call 330.475.7888

“I feel this is extremely important to help keep our streets safe. For years I have fought to keep drunk drivers off the road,” said Prosecutor Walsh. “I’ve gone to the State Legislature to have our drunken driving laws strengthened. My hope is for everyone to enjoy the holiday while not putting others at risk. I would like to thank our sponsor AAA Akron, and the participating taxi companies, Rides 4 Less Taxi, City Yellow Cab, and Anytime Taxi for their support in this effort.”

Summit County residents who need a ride home because they’ve had too much to drink can call 330.475.7888. The program runs from 6pm on Tuesday July 3, 2018 through 6am Thursday July 5, 2018.

William Knight, 64, of Streetsboro was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted earlier this month in the shooting death of 24-year-old Keith Johnson of Akron. 

The following is a press release from the Summit County Prosecutor's Office: 

Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh announced today that Summit County Common Pleas Court Judge Tammy O’Brien sentenced William Knight, 64, of Lady Catherine Street in Streetsboro, to life in prison for killing 24-year-old Keith Johnson.

Knight will be eligible for parole after serving 18 years of his sentence.

On April 10, 2018, a Summit County jury found Knight guilty of the following charges:

• Two Counts of Murder, each with a Gun Specification – both Special Felonies
• Two Counts of Felonious Assault, each with a Gun Specification – felonies  of the 2^nd degree

“Mr. Knight’s decision to fire his gun forever changed the lives of two families. Today, as Keith Johnson’s mother Laquita said, justice was served. I truly hope the Johnson family finds peace as they move forward,” said Prosecutor Walsh.

In the evening of March 20, 2017, William Knight shot and killed Keith Johnson. The shooting followed a dispute over a stolen dirt bike. Earlier that day, Knight’s son-in-law noticed his dirt bike, which had been stolen in February of 2016, was for sale on a social media site. Knight, his daughter and son-in-law went to Danmead Avenue in Akron to confront Keith Johnson and recover the dirt bike. When Johnson attempted to leave the area on the bike, the son-in law grabbed the dirt bike in an attempt to stop Johnson. Johnson was able to pull away from the son-in-law, but was subsequently shot in the head by Knight. The jury rejected arguments by William Knight’s attorney that Knight was acting in self-defense and defense of his family members.

Derrick Sales, 24, of Akron, was sentenced to eight years in prison Friday for selling the fentanyl that killed a Cuyahoga Falls woman back in June of last year. 

Court documents show that Sales sold the deadly opioid to Sheena Moore who was found dead in her home on June 9, 2016. An autopsy later revealed it was in fact fentanyl that killed her. Sales was arrested a charged with Involuntary Manslaughter, Having a Weapon Under Disability, and Aggravated Trafficking in Fentanyl and Carfentanil, all of which were felonies. He was found guilty in Summit County Common Pleas Court on April 14, 2017. 

In a statement released Friday, Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh said, “These drugs have devastated our community and these dealers of death need to be held accountable. We will fight every day for people like Sheena Moore. Sheena never had a chance to live her life. Sheena’s grieving family is forced to pick up the pieces because these drug dealers have no regard for the destruction they leave behind.”

Moore was 31-years-old. 

The Summit County Prosecutor's Office says they charged the wrong man with murder in reference to the shooting death of the bouncer at teh Game 7 Bar and Grille on South Arlington Street back in March. 

It's being called a clerical error, and now the case is going back to the Grand Jury. 

Thomas Dunn III had been charged obstruction of justice, while his co-defendant, Anthony Cox, was facing aggravat4ed murder, murder, and obstruction charges. Since the error has been uncovered, the charges have been flip-flopped, and now Thomas Dunn is facing the murder charges. 

On March 4th, Dunn and Cox were denied entry into the Game 7 Bar and Grill. They returned and shot the bouncer, Daneil Turner. 

When it comes to the heroin epidemic, there are a number of different ways treatment organizations, law enforcement and city leaders are working to tackle the issue. The court system is no different.

"The only way to get these very dangerous and deadly drugs off the streets is to lock up the supplier," said Margaret Scott, deputy chief of the criminal division at the Summit County Prosecutor's Office.

So far this year, 11 people have been charged with manslaughter in connection with heroin overdose deaths in the area.

"These drug dealers, they know exactly what they're doing," said Scott. "They are selling these drugs to people who they know physically have an addiction, and have to have it and feel they have to have it, they're taking their money and they know that it's likely that they will die."

READ Akron Police Chief Adds New Heroin Unit

"Within the past three years, we started to see an increase in actually charging the trafficker with a homicide, and hopefully getting them locked up for a long enough time to keep the product off the streets."

Scott said there are also court programs in place to help connect those battling an addiction with local treatment centers.

An Akron man was found guilty of rape charges involving three young children.

32 year-old Bruce Gordon of Ardella Avenue was charged with two counts of raping a victim under the age of 13 and two counts of gross sexual imposition. The children were five, seven, and eight years old at the time. 

In February of 2015, one of the victims told her mother that she had been sexually assaulted by Gordon. The mother then questioned the other two children who said they were also targeted.

Gordon is scheduled to be sentenced on March 8 and could spend the rest of his life behind bars.  

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(Summit County Prosecutor) – Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh announced today that a Summit County jury found Bruce Gordon, 32, of Ardella Avenue in Akron, guilty of Rape and Gross Sexual Imposition involving three victims all under the age of ten.

Jurors convicted Gordon of the following charges:

2 Counts of Rape of a Victim Under the Age of 13 – felonies of the 1st degree

3 Counts of Gross Sexual Imposition – felonies of the 3rd degree

In February of 2015, one of the victims notified her mother that Gordon was sexually assaulting her. The mother then questioned the other two who both said Gordon had assaulted them. The victims were five, seven, and eight at the time.

Avery II, the Summit County Prosecutor’s Office facility dog, sat with all three victims when they testified at trial. The Summit County Prosecutor’s Office received Avery II in August of 2013 from Canine Companions for Independence. Avery is a highly trained four-year-old Labrador/Retriever mix facility dog, whose primary job is providing emotional support to adults with developmental disabilities and children who are victims of crime. Since 2013, Avery II has been involved in over 80 cases in Summit County.

Gordon faces Life in Prison when he is sentenced on March 8, 2016 at 10am.

A man who raped more than a dozen women in Goodyear Heights for 11 years starting in 1985 won't be getting out of prison any time soon.

The Ohio Parole Board has denied parole for David Allen Bellomy, also known as the "Goodyear Heights rapist", who was convicted in 1996 and sentenced to a minimum prison term of 20 years, and a maximum term of 50 years.

The Summit County Prosecutor's Office passed word of Bellomy's parole denial. In a statement, Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh calls Bellomy "a dangerous criminal" who needs to remain in prison.

His next parole hearing is in 2025.

(Summit County Prosecutor's Office, news release) Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh announced today that the Ohio Parole Board has denied parole for David Allen Bellomy, also known as the Goodyear Heights rapist.

Bellomy was convicted in 1996 for raping more than a dozen women in Akron's Goodyear Heights neighborhood between 1985 and 1996. Bellomy was sentenced to a minimum of 20 years in prison and a maximum of 50 years in prison.

"David Bellomy is a dangerous criminal and needs to remain in prison. David Bellomy spent a decade terrorizing a neighborhood and our community," said Prosecutor Walsh. "We are pleased with the parole board's ruling. David Bellomy has no business being released back into society. Thank you to everyone who wrote letters of opposition to the Parole Board, as well as those who signed the petition to keep Bellomy in prison."

Bellomy will not be eligible for parole again until September of 2025.