2 teens convicted for blocking investigation of shooting in park

4/8/2008

Two Springfield Township teenagers pleaded no contest in Lucas County Common Pleas Court yesterday to charges of obstructing justice for lying to Toledo police about a shooting that occurred in August in Sleepy Hollow Park.

Katie Pezan, 18, of 616 Highland Creek Ct. and Mikaela Buck, 19, of 6741 Lincoln Green St., who were found guilty, could be sentenced to up to one year in prison or could receive probation when sentenced May 14 by Judge Linda Jennings.

Pezan and Buck were convicted of lying to police Aug. 20, just a few days after the shooting.

Maurecio Price, 26, of 6205 Jackman Rd., Apt. 17, also faces charges of obstructing justice for helping the two women leave town prior to the trial of his younger brother, Monta Price.

Michael Loisel, an assistant county prosecutor, said the women did return and tell the truth to police, but they later left when they were expected to testify.

Maurecio Price is slated to appear tomorrow before Judge Gary Cook.

Monta Price, 18, and Ira Brown, 19, both of Toledo, were each convicted and sentenced to prison for their roles in the Aug. 16 shooting and attempted robbery of a man in the park near Dorr Street and Richards Road. Rick Burk, 47, was shot twice during the robbery attempt.

The trial for Monta Price was delayed three times before a plea agreement was reached because Pezan and Buck did not appear at the trial.

Judge Ruth Ann Franks, who presided over Monta Price s trial, held the two women in contempt of court in February for failing to appear.

They were held in the county jail for 13 days on the contempt citation.