Akron teen pleads guilty to murder for Hudson man's shooting in 2021
An Akron teen who was set to go on trial Wednesday for the fatal shooting of a Hudson man in 2021 instead accepted a plea deal.
Jalen Butler pleaded guilty during a video hearing Monday morning to murder with a three-year gun specification and tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony.
Summit County Common Pleas Judge Alison Breaux accepted Butler’s pleas and found him guilty. She will sentence him Feb. 1.
Assistant Prosecutor Joe McAleese said the attorneys agreed to a sentence of life in prison with possible parole after 20 years.
Butler was charged in the Oct. 2, 2021, shooting death of Steven N. Sitts, 48.
Sitts was found with a gunshot wound to the head about 5:40 p.m. in a home in the 500 block of Dayton Street in Akron’s North Hill neighborhood.
Butler, who was 17 at the time, was arrested about a week after the shooting. He was bound over from Summit County Juvenile Court to be tried as an adult.
More:The toll of 2021: Tracking this year's murder cases in Akron
Butler’s original charges included aggravated murder, two counts of murder, aggravated robbery, felonious assault and tampering with evidence. All the charges included gun specifications that carry with them additional prison time.
Butler avoids potential life-without-parole sentence
By accepting the plea deal, Butler avoided a potential life-without-parole sentence if he was convicted of aggravated murder. Prosecutors agreed to dismiss the other charges against him.
Erik Jones, who is representing Butler with Attorneys John Alexander, declined to comment until the sentencing.
Breaux said she will permit family members of both Sitts and Butler to submit letters to her prior to the sentencing or speak at the sentencing.
Stephanie Warsmith can be reached at swarsmith@thebeaconjournal.com, 330-996-3705 and on Twitter: @swarsmithabj.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron teen pleads guilty in Hudson man's fatal shooting in 2021
