Plea deal reached for 2 in fatal shooting

Dismissal of murder charges sought

6/5/2013

Goetz

Prosecutors said Tuesday they will ask for murder charges to be dropped against two of three men charged in an Oct. 5 homicide at Ravine Park Village.

Andy Lastra, an assistant Lucas County prosecutor, told Common Pleas Judge Frederick McDonald that written plea agreements had been offered to Andrew Goetz, 29, of 614 Earl St., and Chaz Jackson, 28, of 1158 Clark St., in which they would plead guilty to robbery charges.

Both had been indicted in October for aggravated murder, murder, and aggravated robbery, all with gun specifications, in the fatal shooting of Jonathan Morris, 22. A co-defendant, Jonathon Johnson, 23, of 1657 Vance St., was indicted at the same time for obstructing justice in the case, but in April Mr. Johnson was indicted on added charges of aggravated murder, murder, aggravated robbery, felonious assault, carrying a concealed weapon, and illegal possession of a firearm in liquor permit premises.

Prosecutors said new information pointed to Mr. Johnson as the shooter in Mr. Morris’ death.

In court Tuesday, Judge McDonald ordered a presentence investigation for Goetz and Mr. Jackson and set a June 18 pretrial hearing at which he said he would consider reducing their bond, as their attorneys requested. Both have been held in the Lucas County jail since October in lieu of $1 million bonds.

Mr. Lastra said after the hearing that as part of the plea agreement offered to Goetz and Mr. Jackson, they would agree to testify in Mr. Johnson’s case. He said Goetz and Mr. Jackson would not enter into plea deals until after Mr. Johnson’s case is concluded.

Judge McDonald set Mr. Johnson’s case for trial July 23.

Prosecutors allege Mr. Johnson had a gun in a bar the night Mr. Morris was killed.

He and several others got into a fight at the bar, were told to leave, and later went to Ravine Park Village in East Toledo, where Mr. Morris was robbed and shot.

Contact Jennifer Feehan at: jfeehan@theblade.com or 419-213-2134.