2 Toledoans sentenced for roles in gym owner's murder

5/14/2013

Two Toledo men who admitted they took part in a botched robbery that ended in the death of a South Toledo gym owner were sentenced today by Lucas County Common Pleas Judge James Bates.

Devonte Harris, 19, of 1326 Gordon St., was sentenced to life in prison with eligibility for parole after 25 years. Jason Kuhns, 32, of 1416 Beecham St., was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison.

Harris pleaded guilty April 26 to aggravated murder in the Nov. 19 shooting death of Joseph Lengel, Jr., 57, owner of CrossFit Intensity Gym on Warehouse Road. Kuhns, who told the court he was one of three men who robbed Mr. Lengel of an iPad but did not carry a gun, pleaded guilty April 23 to murder.

Harris and Kuhns said Mr. Lengel was not the intended target of the hold-up but said they planned to rob a man they believed would be carrying a large amount of drugs and money. A third suspect believed to have taken part in the robbery and shooting, Deitrekk Boone, 19, of 1416 Beecham St., remains at-large.

Two co-defendants who planned the attack – Matthew Managhan, 34, of 3417 Anderson Pkwy., and Chad D. Brown, 35, of 839 Walbridge Ave. – each were sentenced April 30 to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to aggravated robbery and involuntary manslaughter in the commission of felonious assault with a gun specification.