Toledoan gets 30 years in prison after pleas in two separate shooting incidents

3/4/2013

A Toledo man was found guilty today of voluntary manslaughter and two counts of felonious assault from two separate incidents in which he fired a gun into a crowd.

James Sutton IV, 21, was sentenced to 30 years in prison by Lucas County Common Pleas Judge Gary Cook.

Sutton had been scheduled to go to trial today on charges of murder for the April 15 shooting death of Torian Tall, 25, and three counts of felonious assault, but instead entered Alford pleas to the amended charges.

In an Alford plea, a defendant does not admit to committing a crime, but acknowledges evidence is sufficient for a conviction. The court treats it as a guilty plea.

The felonious assault charges resulted from a Feb. 19, 2012, incident in which Sutton fired into a crowd gathered outside a bar in the 100 block of South Byrne Road and struck Brent Cook, 24, and Dennis Garrett, 20.

Mr. Tall was shot at a Valero gas station in the 3300 block of Monroe Street.