Suspect pleads guilty for role in gym owner's death

3/12/2013

One of five men charged in the Nov. 19 shooting death and robbery of a South Toledo gym owner pleaded guilty today in Lucas County Common Pleas Court.

Matthew Managhan, 34, of 3417 Anderson Pkwy., pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the commission of felonious assault with a gun specification and aggravated robbery in the death of Joseph Lengel, Jr., 57.

Judge James Bates accepted his pleas and scheduled sentencing for April 30. He faces up to 25 years in prison.

Managhan admitted to the court that he made arrangements for three co-defendants in the case to rob an individual believed to be carrying a large amount of cash and possibly drugs outside an auto repair shop on Warehouse Road next to Intensity CrossFit Gym.

Managhan also admitted to supplying the handgun used in the offense but said it was not his intention that the gun be used to shoot the victim, only to rob him.

Louis Kountouris, an assistant Lucas County prosecutor, said after the hearing that investigators do not believe Mr. Lengel was the intended victim of the robbery.

“He was mistaken for the target,” Mr. Kountouris said.