Jury acquits Toledo man on felonious assault charge

9/18/2013

A Lucas County Common Pleas jury today acquitted an alleged gang member on a felonious assault charge.

Mecca Canty, 18, of 1812 Brame Pl., who prosecutors said was a member of the Charge Girls gang, had been on trial for allegedly firing into a group of rival Gotti Girls on Sept. 23, 2012, on Isherwood Avenue. Tiajah Wilson, 17, was shot in the right shoulder.

Frank Spryszak, an assistant Lucas County prosecutor, told the jury Ms. Canty had been jumped and shot in the leg Sept. 14, 2012, leading her to fire at them in retaliation nine days later.

Ms. Canty was originally charged with five counts of felonious assault, however, earlier in the trail Judge Dean Mandros granted a motion  by defense attorney Ronnie Wingate to acquit Ms. Canty on four of the five felonious assault counts, based on insufficient evidence showing Ms. Canty had intended to shoot at the other girls on the street with Ms. Wilson.

The jury deliberated about four hours before returning a not guilty verdict about 3 p.m. on the sole remaining count of felonious assault with a firearms specification.