Toledo teen guilty of assault in shooting

11/15/2012

A Toledo teen was found guilty in Lucas County Common Pleas Court Tuesday of felonious assault for firing gunshots into a Springfield Township apartment that wounded two men.

Dequan Tatum, 18, of 2822 C St. entered an Alford plea to two counts of felonious assault, each with a one-year gun specification. He faces up to 17 years in prison when sentenced Dec. 3 by Judge Ruth Ann Franks.

Tatum was found guilty of shooting into an apartment in Oakwood Gardens, 235 N. McCord Rd., on Feb. 19. Three men were hiding inside. He was 17 at the time of the incident and was certified June 4 in Juvenile Court to stand trial as an adult.

A co-defendant, Calvin Gholikely, 20, of 3937 Airport Hwy. was sentenced May 16 to three years in prison after pleading no contest to one count of felonious assault. Authorities said he was with Tatum when they encountered the men and that Gholikely pointed out the men's location.

Monta Wallace, 18, and Jovon Porter, 20, were wounded during the shooting. A third man was not injured.

In an Alford plea, the defendant maintains his innocence or does not admit he committed a crime, but acknowledges evidence is sufficient for a conviction. The court treats it as a guilty plea.