Toledo man admits to crime spree

3/19/2012

Every couple of days over a period of a week last fall, Deangelo Overton armed himself with a handgun and went in search of victims to rob, investigators said.

Overton, 18, of 633 Woodland Ave., entered a plea in Lucas County Common Pleas Court Monday for his role in three incidents that spanned from Oct. 28 through Nov. 4, including the shooting of a woman and her then 4-year-old son.

Overton pleaded no contest to a total of five counts of felonious assault, two counts of improperly discharging a firearm into a habitation, and one count each of attempted aggravated burglary, aggravated burglary, and aggravated robbery, each with an attached gun specification. Judge Gene Zmuda found him guilty of all offenses and set an April 18 sentencing date where Overton faces up to 95 years in prison.

Assistant County Prosecutor Michael Loisel said that the first of the incidents occurred Oct. 28 at a home in the 2000 block of Glenwood Avenue. The two female occupants, Tresane Burgess, 27, and Joy Pearson, 29, heard a noise outside and when investigating found Overton on a window ledge attempting to gain entry into the house, he said.

“Both individuals approached the window to see who was there,” Mr. Loisel said. “The defendant aimed a gun at the individuals in the home and fired at least two shots.”

The two women were not injured and the defendant fled from the scene, he added.

Three days later, Overton and another individual broke into a home in the 2000 block of Robinwood Avenue, Mr. Loisel said. While there, the 37-year-old homeowner returned to find the two men inside her house, he added.

“The defendant held her at gunpoint and walked her through the house so that they could find more valuables,” Mr. Loisel said. He further stole her bankcard and threatened her harm if she did not give the personal identification number.

A surveillance video at an ATM showed the defendant attempting to use the card, Mr. Loisel said.

The final incident came four days later, on Nov. 4, when Overton was engaged in purchasing drugs from Chris Henry in the Byrneport apartments parking lot. At some point during the transaction, he then attempted to rob Henry, 28, who in turn fled into one of the apartments, Mr. Loisel said.

Overton fired at Mr. Henry as he fled into the apartment building. Although Henry was not hit, a bullet went through the front door of an apartment and struck both Sandra Felder, 34, and her son, Jashon Veasley. Mr. Loisel said the bullet passed through Ms. Felder’s leg and hit her son in the abdomen. Shell casings from a 40-calliber handgun were found at the scene.

Both mother and son have since been released from the hospital.

Mr. Loisel said Overton was arrested Nov. 8 and subsequently admitted in a police interview to involvement in each of the incidents. He said that the gun used to shoot Ms. Felder and her son, was thrown into the Maumee River.

Overton’s attorney, David Klucas, declined to comment on the case Monday. He said that he plans to make an argument to the judge that the sentences for many of the counts should be merged and so reducing Overton’s possible maximum time in prison.

Contact Erica Blake at: eblake@theblade.com or 419-213-2134.