Columbus man sentenced in killing of city employee; another man's murder case dismissed
The second of two Columbus men convicted Tuesday in connection with the July 2021 burglary and shooting death of city employee Tearicka Cradle was sentenced in Franklin County Common Pleas Court.
Lonnie R. Davis, 30, of Franklinton is facing a minimum of 16 years behind bars for his role in the incident. According to Franklin County prosecutors, Davis and codefendant Ivan A. Netter tried to burglarize Cradle's home in the 2000 block of Jane Avenue on the city's Northeast Side, where she was found shot to death during the early morning hours of July 18, 2021.
Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Jeffrey Brown sentenced Davis on Tuesday to a minimum prison term of 16 years. As required by the state's Reagan Tokes Act, Brown gave Davis an indefinite sentence. Davis could serve up to 5 ½ years more if the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction determines he is a continued threat to society.
Davis previously pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and aggravated robbery. Netter pleaded to the same charges plus felonious asault. In exchange, prosecutors dropped murder charges against both men.
Brown sentenced Netter, 25, of North Linden, on Sept. 29 to an indefinite prison term of 25 years to 30 ½ years.
Context:First of two Columbus men sentenced in July 2021 shooting death of Columbus city employee
Context:One arrested, one at large in shooting death of city employee Tearicka Cradle
Davis was dragged into this crime at the last minute, Davis' attorney Jeffrey Basnett said Tuesday in court.
"Somebody called him to go get somebody for a ride and he ended up getting caught in this burglary and that's when this homicide happened," Basnett said. "He's very sorry that he even answered that phone call and got involved in this."
Before his sentencing, Davis turned to the gallery in the courtroom and tearfully apologized to Cradle's family and his own. Davis said he didn't mean for this to happen.
"I hurt everybody in this," he said.
Brown also sentenced Davis on Tuesday in a separate case related to a shooting July 31, 2021 on the 800 block of Greenfield Drive. Police accused Davis of firing a weapon at a vehicle, striking the window. No one was injured in that incident.
In that case, Davis pleaded guilty to felonious assault and received a two-year to three-year prison term that he will serve at the same time as his sentence for involuntary manslaughter.
Franklin County Assistant Prosecutor Jack Wong declined to comment on the case.
Prosecutors dismiss murder case, could try again
In a separate case, Franklin County prosecutors have dismissed murder charges against David Shane Lynch of the South Side, Franklin County First Assistant Prosecutor Janet Grubb told The Dispatch Tuesday.
The prosecutors on the case filed a "nolle prosequi" document with the court, according to Grubb. The Latin term means prosecutors were no longer willing to pursue prosecution of the case.
Grubb said there is insufficient evidence tying Lynch to the fatal shooting of Christopher Mathew Kirby on Jan. 7, 2020, in the 1100 block of Smith Road on the South Side.
Context:Columbus police arrest suspects in 4 separate homicides
"We can't find witnesses," Grubb said. "The length of time between the indictment and the court reopening hurt us in this case. Lots of people changed their living situation during the pandemic."
Prosecutors previously charged Lynch with murder, aggravated murder and aggravated robbery, among other charges. If witnesses or evidence are found, prosecutors could pursue charges against Lynch again.
jlaird@dispatch.com
@LairdWrites
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Man sentenced in death of Columbus employee; a murder case dismissed
