Another defendant pleads guilty to role in death of gym owner
4/23/2013The third of five men charged in the fatal robbery of a South Toledo gym owner pleaded guilty today to murder.
Jason Kuhns, 32, of 1416 Beecham St., told Lucas County Common Pleas Judge James Bates he helped plan the robbery of a man believed to be carrying drugs and money. He also admitted the man he and two others robbed – Joseph Lengel, 57, owner of CrossFit Intensity Gym – was not the intended target.
Mr. Lengel was robbed of an iPad as he arrived at the gym on Warehouse Road Nov. 19 then shot to death.
Kuhns said in court that he and co-defendants Devonte Harris, 19, and Deitrickk Boone, 19, had hid behind a Dumpster waiting for the victim to arrive that morning. He said Mr. Harris and Mr. Boone both were armed and shot Mr. Lengel during a struggle.
Judge Bates scheduled sentencing for Kuhns for May 14.
Two others – Chad D. Brown, 35, and Matthew Managhan, 34 – previously entered guilty pleas to their roles in planning the heist. Both are to be sentenced April 30.