4th man pleads guilty in death of gym owner

4/27/2013

The last of four men in custody for a deadly robbery pleaded guilty to aggravated murder Friday in Lucas County Common Pleas Court.

Devonte Harris, 19, of 1326 Gordon St. replied with a quiet “Yes,” after each question his attorney, Don Cameron, asked him about the morning of

Nov. 19, when Joseph Lengel, 57, owner of CrossFit Intensity Gym, was robbed and then shot to death when he arrived for work.

Did he along with Jason Kuhns and Deitrekk Boone plan to rob an individual that morning? Did they have weapons? Did they discharge those weapons? Did they then drive away? Did he share in the proceeds of the robbery — an iPad stolen from Mr. Lengel?

Under the terms of a plea agreement with prosecutors, Harris is to receive a life sentence with eligibility for parole after 25 years. A charge of aggravated robbery and a firearms specification also are to be dismissed at his sentencing May 14.

Judge James Bates told Harris that while he would be eligible for parole after serving 25 years, there was no guarantee he would be released at that time.

Three co-defendants have entered guilty pleas; Mr. Boone, 19, of 1416 Beecham St. remains at large. Kuhns, 32, also of 1416 Beecham St., pleaded guilty to murder Tuesday and will be sentenced May 14.

Two men who admitted to planning the hold-up but did not take part have pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery and involuntary manslaughter in the commission of a felonious assault with a gun specification. Matthew Managhan, 34, of 3417 Anderson Pkwy. and Chad D. Brown, 35, of 839 Walbridge Ave. will be sentenced Tuesday.

Louis Kountouris, an assistant Lucas County prosecutor, said afterward that Mr. Lengel was not the target of the robbery plan, but that another individual believed to be carrying drugs and money in the vicinity of Warehouse Road was the intended victim. Mr. Cameron described Harris as “the least connected” person in the plot, who was recruited at the last minute to assist.