BORDERLAND

Murder trial set
 as man spurns deal

8/6/2013

Prosecutors on Monday laid out a last-chance plea agreement for a Toledo man charged in two homicides, but he declined the offer.

Traquawn Gibson, 18, of 2720 Elm St. told Lucas County Common Pleas Judge Ruth Ann Franks he wanted to take his cases to trial.

After explaining the maximum time he could be sentenced to prison — life in prison without eligibility for parole — the judge scheduled the matters for trial Sept. 3.

Lindsay Navarre, an assistant Lucas County prosecutor, told the court that in exchange for guilty pleas to aggravated murder for the Nov. 18 death of CreJonnia Bell, 19, and involuntary manslaughter for the Oct. 18 death of Deontae Allen, 19, the state would have asked the court to dismiss two counts of murder and one count each of aggravated burglary, aggravated robbery, felonious assault, and participating in a criminal gang.

Ms. Navarre said the proposed plea agreement called for a recommended sentence of life in prison, with parole eligibility after 34 years.