Toledoan pleads guilty in shooting death

Woman helped arrange New Year’s Eve robbery that resulted in killing of target

Ashley Hund-strucker was arrested in the shooting death of Brian Minley, Jr., 24, in his home on New Year's Eve.

A Toledo woman wiped away tears as she admitted in court Monday that she helped arrange a New Year's Eve robbery that ended in the shooting death of the intended target.

Ashley Hundstrucker, 23, of 3940 Lockwod Ave., pleaded guilty before Lucas County Common Pleas Judge Dean Mandros to a bill of information charging her with complicity to commit involuntary manslaughter in the Dec. 31 death of Brian Minley, 24, at his Berdan Avenue home.

As part of a plea agreement with prosecutors, charges of complicity to murder, complicity to aggravated robbery, and complicity to aggravated burglary are to be dismissed when she is sentenced Oct. 10. Hundstrucker faces up to 11 years in prison when she is sentenced.

Before Judge Mandros accepted her guilty plea, Frank Spryszak, an assistant Lucas County prosecutor, told the court that Hundstrucker, at the request of Daquaine Booth, had contacted Mr. Minley by Facebook to arrange to purchase marijuana from him at his house.

Hundstrucker and Booth have a child together, he said.

On Dec. 31, Hundstrucker drove Booth and co-defendant Kevin Brooks to the victim’s house, Mr. Spryszak said. Booth went inside alone and when he was gone for an extended period of time, Brooks went to check on him. He heard gunfire and soon Booth allegedly came running out of the house, he said.

Hundstrucker drove the two men away from the scene. Mr. Minley died from a single gunshot wound to the back.

“Miss Hundstrucker was directly involved in setting up the drug buy that didn’t take place, and she drove them to the house and drove them away from the crime scene where she knew that a robbery had taken place,” Mr. Spryszak said.

On Sept. 9, Brooks, 23, of 3208 Maple St., pleaded guilty to complicity to commit involuntary manslaughter. He also is to be sentenced Oct. 10 by Judge Mandros.

Booth, 26, of 2828 Weber St., is scheduled to go to trial Sept. 30 on charges of murder, aggravated robbery, and aggravated burglary — charges that each carry firearms specifications — although he is to be in court for a hearing Friday.

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