Sentencing phase for Warren man found guilty in capital murder case set to begin Nov. 13
A Trumbull County jury on Wednesday found a Warren man guilty of two counts of aggravated murder, attempted murder, aggravated burglary, kidnapping felonious assault, assault on a peace officer and receiving stolen property.
The jurors deliberated about three hours after hearing two days of testimony in the case of the slaying of James Chapman on the early morning of April 2, 2023, at Chapman’s home on Lener Avenue SW in Warren.
A mitigation or sentencing phase of the trial is scheduled to begin 9 a.m. Nov. 13 in Judge Rice’s Trumbull County Common Pleas Courtroom.
What testimony revealed about the incident
Testimony at the trial of Kashaun Williams showed Chapman was shot two times, with one bullet passing through the heart and another bullet severing the spinal cord. He died within minutes of the shooting on his front porch. Williams was also convicted of shooting and beating Chapman’s girlfriend Martina Moore and punching a female police officer as he was being arrested.
Williams, 30, who has a violent criminal record including prior prison terms, was also found guilty of specifications of aggravating circumstances and firearm specifications. Judge Ronald J. Rice also found Williams guilty of the felony of having weapons while under disability, which convicted Williams of using a gun while being a convicted felon. The judge also found that the defendant was a repeat violent offender.
Because of the jury’s findings of specifications of aggravating circumstances, Williams faces a possible death sentence.
After the jurors hear defense evidence that could mitigate the possibility of death, they will again go into deliberations to debate whether to recommend a death penalty or possible life sentences to Judge Rice who will make the final determination.
The jury also has the option to recommend that Williams serve life in prison without the chance for parole or other life sentences with parole possibilities beginning at various times after Williams has served at least 23 years. Ohio law bars Judge Rice from imposing a more serious penalty above the jury’s recommendations.
Trumbull County Assistant Prosecutors Christopher Becker and Gabriel Wildman represented the state at trial, while Williams was defended by attorney Anthony Meranto and Thomas Zena.
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