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Judges deny appeal of rapist serving 25 years to life in prison

By Trumbull County Prosecutor’s Office Mahoning Matters
Judges deny appeal of rapist serving 25 years-to-life
Judges deny appeal of rapist serving 25 years-to-life ARCHIVO DEL MIAMI HERALD

The Ohio 11th District Court of Appeals denied an appeal from a convicted rapist serving a 25-year-to-life prison sentence.

The court rejected the appeal of 44-year-old Francis LaCamera from Warren in its decision today.

Francis LaCamera conviction stands

LaCamera was found guilty by a Trumbull County jury last June for the sexual assault of a then-12-year-old Hubbard girl over a six-month period in 2020.

In his appeal, LaCamera cited two potential errors made by the trial court.

He said the conviction was not supported by strong enough evidence and that the verdict went against the manifest weight of evidence.

Judges Matt Lynch, John J. Ecklund and Eugene A. Lucci stated LaCamera’s appeal lacked merit.

“’Viewing the evidence in its entirety, the jury was in the best position to assess the credibility of witnesses and evaluated the substance of the recorded exhibits. In doing so, we cannot conclude that the jury’s verdict is against the manifest weight of the evidence,” Lucci said.

LaCamera’s conviction and sentence handed down by Common Pleas Judge Cynthia Rice will stand.

He’ll continue to serve his prison sentence at Noble Correctional Institution.

Assistant Prosecutor Gabriel Wildman represented the defense at trial, while the appeal was handled by Assistant Prosecutor Ryan Sanders for the state.

Jeremiah Ulysses Jones conviction stands

The 11th District Court of Appeals also upheld the conviction and prison sentence of Jeremiah Ulysses Jones.

He originally entered guilty pleas for two counts of aggravated robbery, first-degree felonies, in June in of 2019 and was sentenced to an aggregate prison term of six years, including a three-year gun specification.

Jones filed a motion to withdraw his guilty plea on June 7 of last year.

On June 12, Judge Sean O’Brien denied that motion; Jones then appealed that ruling.

11th District Court of Appeals Judge Robert J. Patton wrote today that Jones’ reasons for withdrawing his plea was not a serious enough.

Patton was joined by Judges Mary Jane Trapp and Matt Lynch in the decision.

Assistant Prosecutor Ryan Sanders argued the case before the appellate court, while Jones was represented by Stow attorney Michael Partlow.

Jones, 24, will continue to serve his prison sentence at Northeast Ohio Correctional Center.

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