MANSFIELD — A Mansfield man was sentenced in February to 27 years to life in prison for charges of murder and voluntary manslaughter.
Ja’Vontae Jones, 23, pleaded guilty Feb. 19 to murder and an amended count of voluntary manslaughter, along with tampering with evidence, according to Richland County Common Pleas Court records.
The agreed-upon sentence was imposed Feb. 21 by Judge Brent Robinson.
Prosecutors dismissed two additional murder counts and four counts of discharge of a firearm on or near prohibited premises in exchange for Jones’ plea, according to court records. He was credited for 405 days spent in the county jail.
Jones’ charges stem from a June 2023 double-homicide in Mansfield inside a moving car, where Jonathan Ash, 18, and Nathan Carroll, 18, both of Mansfield, were killed.
Members of the U.S. Marshals Southern Ohio Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team apprehended Jones in January 2024 at a home in Columbus on the city’s southeast side.
Criminal sentencing and other dispositions
Below are criminal court cases which have been resolved in Richland County Common Pleas Court in recent months.
The list includes any case which Richland Source has published as an indictment, stories which first began publishing here in February 2024.
January
— Elijah Taylor, 20, was sentenced to 36 months of community control for an amended count of vandalism. A felonious assault charge was dismissed. Taylor is subject to up to two years of post-release control and ordered to make restitution in the amount of $500.
February
— Tyson Melton, 20, received 30 months of community control for improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle and receiving stolen property. A charge of carrying a concealed weapon was dismissed. Melton is subject to up to two years of post-release control.
— Anthony Reed, 31, was sentenced to 28 to 33 years in prison for five charges: possession of cocaine, trafficking in cocaine, possession of a fentanyl-related compound, trafficking in a fentanyl-related compound and participating in a criminal gang. Reed also received two to five years of mandatory post-release control. He was ordered to pay $80 to the Mansfield Police Department crime lab and was granted 343 days of jail credit for time already served at the Richland County Sheriff’s Office.
— Jacob Hoskins, 36, received 36 months of community control for four charges; possession of a fentanyl-related compound (2 counts), resisting arrest and obstructing official business. Hoskins was ordered to pay $40 to the MPD crime lab and is subject to up to two years of post-release control.
— Kevin Pegues, 41, was sentenced to six months in prison for harassment with a bodily substance. Pegues was granted 88 days of jail credit for time already served at RCSO and is subject to up to two years of post-release control.
— Christopher A. Elam, 37, received a six-month prison sentence for aggravated possession of drugs. Elam was ordered to pay $40 to the MPD crime lab. He was granted 68 days of jail credit for time already served at RCSO and is subject to up to two years of post-release control.
— Mark Scaggs, 50, was sentenced to an 180-day suspended jail sentence for an amended count of attempted possession of a fentanyl-related compound. Scaggs was fined $1,000 and ordered to pay $40 to the MPD crime lab.
— Veronica Sims, 51, received two 12-month prison sentences, to be served consecutively, for two counts of possession of cocaine. Three charges were dismissed; tampering with evidence, illegal conveyance of drugs of abuse onto grounds of a specified governmental facility and possession of a fentanyl-related compound. Sims was ordered to pay $40 to the MPD crime lab. She was granted 52 days of jail credit for time already served at RCSO and is subject to up to two years of post-release control.
— Teasha Sprague, 35, was sentenced to 36 months of community control for aggravated possession of drugs. Sprague was also fined $250 and ordered to pay $40 to the MPD crime lab. She is subject to up to two years of post-release control.
— Keith Lamb, 52, was accepted into Richland County Substance Abuse Treatment Court on Feb. 24. Lamb was indicted on possession of cocaine on July 25, 2024. His case has been transferred to SATC for all further proceedings.
— Delvinci Green, 40, was sentenced to 30 months in prison, consecutive to his current prison sentence, for an amended count of felonious assault. A repeat violent offender specification was dismissed. Green also received one to three years of mandatory post-release control. He was granted one day of jail credit for time already served at RCSO.
— Ryan Lester, 40, received 30 months of community control for possession of cocaine. Lester was also fined $250. He is subject to up to two years of post-release control.
— Dorrien Smith, 46, was sentenced to 12 months in prison for escape. Smith was granted 82 days of jail credit for time already served at RCSO and is subject to up to two years of post-release control.
In a separate case, Smith received a 36-month prison sentence for failure to verify address. Smith is subject to up to two years of post-release control.
Additionally, Smith, in a separate case, was sentenced to 36 months in prison for failure to provide notice of change of address. Smith is subject to up to two years of post-release control.
— Timothy Johnson, 50, was sentenced to an 180-day suspended jail sentence for an amended count of attempted aggravated possession of drugs. Johnson was fined $1,000 and ordered to pay $40 to the MPD crime lab.
— Brittany McKinney, 37, was accepted into Richland County Substance Abuse Treatment Court on Feb. 25. McKinney was indicted on aggravated possession of drugs (2 counts) on Aug. 26, 2024. Two charges were dismissed; possessing drug abuse instruments and illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia. Her case has been transferred to SATC for all further proceedings.
— Treven Allred, 28, received 36 months of community control for domestic violence. A second count of domestic violence was dismissed. Allred is subject to up to two years of post-release control.
— Brendan Jefferson, 34, was accepted into Richland County Substance Abuse Treatment Court on Feb. 4. Jefferson was indicted on theft on Sept. 26, 2024. His case has been transferred to SATC for all further proceedings.
— Fritz Weiss, 37, was sentenced to 36 months of community control for possession of a fentanyl-related compound and possession of cocaine. Weiss is subject to up to two years of post-release control and was ordered to pay $80 to the MPD crime lab.
— Seth Hay, 31, received 36 months of community control for receiving stolen property. Hay is subject to up to two years of post-release control.
— Michael Cox, 44, previously indicted on retaliation (2 counts), had his case dismissed without prejudice on Feb. 21.
— Jamie Fugitt, 48, was sentenced to 30 months of community control for possession of a fentanyl-related compound and possession of drugs. Fugitt was ordered to pay $80 to the MPD crime lab and is subject to up to two years of post-release control.
— Markieth D. Johnson, 35, received 36 months of community control for aggravated possession of drugs. Johnson was also fined $250 and is subject to up to two years of post-release control.
— Michael Slaughter, 44, was sentenced to 36 months of community control for domestic violence. Slaughter is subject to up to two years of post-release control.
— William Green, 36, was fined $1,000 for an amended count of attempted aggravated possession of drugs. Green was also ordered to pay $35 to the Ohio State Highway Patrol crime lab and $50 in supervision fees to the Richland County Probation Department.
— Steven Earl, 37, was sentenced to 24 months in prison for domestic violence. Four charges were dismissed; aggravated burglary, burglary, abduction and trespass in a habitation when a person is present or likely to be present. Earl also received one to three years of mandatory post-release control. He was granted 88 days of jail credit for time already served at RCSO.
— Derick Smith, 44, received a 12-month prison sentence for grand theft of a motor vehicle, which was merged with a count of receiving stolen property. Smith was also ordered to make restitution in the amount of $372.96. He was granted 59 days of jail credit for time already served at RCSO and is subject to up to two years of post-release control.
— Lonie Scott, 51, was sentenced to six months in prison for an amended count of domestic violence. Scott was granted 183 days of jail credit for time already served at RCSO and is subject to up to two years of post-release control.
— Brent Hakes, 35, was sentenced to 48 months in prison for failure to comply with an order or signal of a police officer and vandalism. Two additional charges were dismissed; failure to comply with an order or signal of a police officer and criminal trespass. Hakes’ driver’s license was also suspended for seven years beginning Sept. 21, 2024. He was granted two days of jail credit for time already served at RCSO and is subject to up to two years of post-release control.
— Joshua Conley, 43, received a seven-month prison sentence for possession of a fentanyl-related compound. Conley was ordered to pay $40 to the MPD crime lab. He was granted 17 days of jail credit for time already served at RCSO and is subject to up to two years of post-release control.