Displaying items by tag: Summit County Prosecutor

Summit County Prosecutor Elliot Kolkovich, and one of his employees, Jennifer Watson, joined Jeanne Destro on the Ray Horner Morning Show today, to talk about fentanyl awareness.

Kolkovich is running a month-long campaign, which includes billboards and interviews like you'll hear today, with Watson, whose 23 year old son Nick, died from an overdose.

Find out how his death inspired Watson to share her story of unspeakable loss, and how you can help to ensure your family isn't next.

Summit County Prosecutor, Sherri Bevan Walsh, joined the Ray Horner Morning Show. There are a lot of scams being reported and many of them are targeting seniors. Sherri shared warning signs of scams, common scams, and more.

(Summit County Prosecutor) AKRON, Ohio (Friday, December 17, 2021) – Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh is today re-launching an anti-drunk driving campaign to help keep Summit County roads safe during the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. Arrive Alive is back with free or reduced fare rides home for people who go out and decide to drink alcohol. The campaign coincides with National Impaired Driving Prevention Month.

WHAT: FREE or reduced fare rides home during the Christmas & New Year’s Holidays

WHEN: From 12pm Friday December 24 to 6pm Sunday December 26

AND

               From 12pm Friday December 31 to 6pm Saturday January 1, 2022

HOW: 300 one-time use codes for up to $20 off a LYFT ride

“As people slowly begin to gather with family and friends, I don’t want tragedy to shatter their good time. I work hard every day to make Summit County a safer place to live, and that includes keeping drunk or impaired people from getting behind the wheel. Arrive Alive does just that,” said Prosecutor Walsh. “If you decide to celebrate with alcohol, please have a designated driver, or use our Arrive Alive program. The life you save may be your own!”

Summit County residents who need a ride home because they decide to drink alcohol during the Christmas or New Year’s Eve holidays can use a LYFT code for a FREE or reduced fare ride home (up to $20). The codes are only good for the specific period-of-time outlined in the flyer and this news release.

The LYFT code for the Christmas holiday is SUMMITXMAS, and the LYFT code for New Year’s Eve is SUMMITNYE.

Prosecutor Walsh added, “according to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, every two minutes someone is injured in a drunk driving crash and every 51 minutes someone is killed. I hope people make responsible decisions during the holidays and keep the roads safe for everyone. Please be safe for yourself and everyone around you.”

Arrive Alive was launched in Summit County during the July 4^th, 2018 holiday weekend. Since then over 2,000 people have used the service.

Summit County prosecutors are dismissing some of the charges filed against two suspects in the murder of 18-year-old Na'Kia Crawford.

The young North High School grad was gunned down while sitting in the car with her grandmother at a traffic light at North Howard and West North Streets back on June 14th of last year.

The murder made national news as the search for Na'Kia's killer or killers sparked a nationwide manhunt that is still ongoing. Akron-native and NBA Champion LeBron James tweeted "Justice for Na'Kia" shortly after the young girl's murder. 

Now we need a conviction and sentencing to the FULL AMOUNT!!! #JusticeForNakiaCrawford

— LeBron James (@KingJames) June 18, 2020

Weeks after the murder, 19-year-old Jaion Bivins of Akron and 25-year-old Janisha George of Tallmadge were arrested on obstruction and tampering charges that are now dropped.

The primary suspect in the case, Adarus Black, is still on the run. While the prosecutor's office isn't commenting, Akron Police Lieutenant Mike Miller tells News 5 that the dismissal of these charges against Bivins and George does not meant they won't be charged again when Adarus Black is found.

More: Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan discussing the search for Na'Kia's killer on the Ray Horner Morning Show

An Akron man will spend the rest of his life in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of rape, according to the Summit County Prosecutor's Office.

Back in October, Raymond Smiley pled guilty to raping his girlfriend's young daughter on two separate occassions.

Common Pleas Court Judge Christine Croce sentenced Smiley, who isn't eligible for parole for 20 years, on Tuesday.

See the full press release from the Prosecutor's Office below: 

Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh announced today that Summit County Common Pleas Court Judge Christine Croce sentenced Raymond Smiley, 39, of McGowan Street in Akron, to LIFE IN PRISON for raping a young girl.

On October 23, 2018 Smiley pled guilty to the following charges:

• Two Counts of Rape – Felonies of the 1st degree

Smiley admitted to raping his girlfriend’s young daughter on two separate occasions. 

“What this defendant did was horrifying. I am very grateful he will spend a significant amount of time in prison where he won’t be able to hurt innocent young girls,” said Prosecutor Walsh. “The survivor and her mother showed tremendous strength in standing up to him. My prosecutors and victim advocates did an outstanding job in getting justice.” 

Smiley will be eligible for parole after serving 20 years in prison.

Judge Croce also designated Smiley a Tier III sex offender. If he is released from prison, Smiley will have to register with the local sheriff every 90 days for the rest of his life.

Darnell Bitting, 32, of Akron will spend the rest of his life in prison for the shooting death of 4-year-old Janaya Swain back in February outside his Akron home.

Summit County Common Pleas Court Judge Christine Croce handed down the sentence Wednesday, adding that Bitting will not be eligible for parole for 56 and a half years. Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh said in a statement that the "hope is that (the) sentence brings Janaya's family some peace." 

See the full press release from Summit County Prosecutor Bevan Walsh's office below: 

Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh announced today that Summit County Common Pleas Court Judge Christine Croce sentenced Darnell Bitting, 32 of Georgia Street in Akron, to life in prison for the shooting death of 4-year-old Janaya Swain. Bitting will be eligible for parole after serving 56 ½ years.

 On Friday, October 5, 2018 a Summit County jury found Bitting guilty of the following charges:

• Two counts of Murder with Firearm Specifications – special felonies
• Six counts of Felonious Assault with Firearm Specifications – felonies of the 2nd degree 

“This tragedy will leave its mark for years to come. Four-year-old Janaya was full of life and always there to help a friend. She will be sorely missed,” said Prosecutor Walsh. “We are pleased to know the man responsible for her death will never again have the chance to hurt an innocent life. Our hope is that today’s sentence brings Janaya’s family some peace.”

At around 10:30pm on February 16, 2018, De’Azha Swain pulled up to a home on Mercer Avenue in Akron to retrieve some personal items. Four young girls, ages two, four, six, and seven, and their grandmother were also inside the vehicle. De’Azha got into an argument with Darnell Bitting, who was inside the home at the time. Bitting came out of the home with an AK-47 and fired the weapon. A shot struck and killed four-year-old Janaya Swain.

A Summit County jury has found Darshawn T. McCormick, 25, guilty in a shooting death of another man back on December of 2016. 

According to Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh's office, MCCormick was convicted on Wednesday on two counts of murder with a gun specification, one count of felonious assault with a gun specification, and having a weapon under disability. 

Court records indicate that back on December 26th, 2016, Javanta Virden was working on a car that was parked in a lot along Ericsson Avenue in Akron when he was approached by three people, one of whom was McCormick. The information doesn't point to a motive, but Virden was shot and killed. A subsequent investigation led investigators back to McCormick and he was arrested and charged. 

McCormick will be sentenced by Summit County Common Pleas Court Judge Jason Wells on Tuesday June 26, at 1 p.m. 

Former Akron Fire Department Union Treasurer Joseph Ruhlin, 41, has pled guilty to embezzling nearly half-a-million dollars from the Union while he was in charge of the funds, according to a release from Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh's office. 

Ruhlin, who was treasurer of the department's Union Local 330 from January of 2011 through March of 2017, admitted to stealing about $500,000 during his time in office. 

When he was charged with Theft in Office, Ruhlin fled Akron to North Carolina. Authorities eventually caught up with him and he was extradited back to Summit County.

Ruhlin, who is charged with Theft in Office and Tampering with Records, both 3rd degree felonies, is due in Summit County Common Pleas Court on March 13, 2018 at 1 p.m. for a restitution hearing and is scheduled to me sentenced by Common Pleas Court Judge Alison Breaux immediately following.