Boone found guilty in death of South Toledo gym owner

6/12/2014
BLADE STAFF
Deitrekk Boone
Deitrekk Boone

Lucas County Common Pleas Judge James Bates today pronounced Deitrekk Boone guilty of the aggravated murder of South Toledo gym owner Joseph Lengel and immediately sentenced him to life in prison.

Boone, 21, of 1416 Beecham St., was convicted of aggravated murder and aggravated robbery and two accompanying firearms specifications in the Nov. 19, 2012 shooting death of Mr. Lengel, 57, owner of CrossFit Intensity Gym. Judge Bates ordered that he serve at least 41 years in prison before he is eligible for parole.

Just after Boone took the stand in his defense this morning and denied repeatedly that he was involved in the crime, Judge Bates listened to closing arguments and – without leaving the bench to deliberate – found Boone guilty on all counts.

“He was obviously impressed with our evidence,” Louis Kountouris, an assistant Lucas County prosecutor who tried the case, said afterward. “It was pretty overwhelming.”

Before being sentenced, Boone told the court he was not involved in the homicide, that he was sorry for Mr. Lengel’s family, but that he was not responsible for his death. He asked the court to appoint an attorney to file an appeal on his behalf.

After his indictment, Boone fled Toledo and eluded police for nearly a year until he was arrested in Houston in December. Mr. Kountouris said that did not help Boone's case.

"Flight is not a good thing," he said.