Joseph Goodin, 26, of Woodside Boulevard, who was the trigger man in the botched robbery accepted responsibility last week for his part in the Judy Drive incident. Goodin is scheduled to be sentenced on May 20 and he also faces 18 years in prison, with an additional 11 years if Judge Patricia Oney runs the sentences consecutively.
The other three co-defendants were to be tried together on May 21, however the judge is still considering motions to sever the proceedings. Christia Frymire, 19, of Fairfield, has asked Oney to sever her trial from that of Anthony Givens, 22, of Hamilton and Jerry Eacholes, 26 of Middletown.
“The prosecutor has disclosed a statement made by co-defendant Givens to a former cell mate that it indicates it intends to use at the joint trial…” Frymire’s attorney Melynda Cook wrote. “The statement made by co-defendant Givens to this witness seemingly implicates the defendant (Frymire).”
Cook also doesn’t want her client tried with Eacholes. Likewise, Assistant Prosecutor David Kash asked Oney to try Givens separately because he intends to call a witness who can implicate that co-defendant. He said it would trample Given’s constitutional rights.
Prosecutor Mike Gmoser said he can’t comment on the three co-defendants who are still scheduled for trial, but said Williams and Goodin’s attorneys made strategic moves.
“The attorneys that represented their clients in the pleas that have already taken place obviously did review meticulously the case with respect to those defendants,” he said. “They had to have reached the conclusion that it was in the best interest of their client to enter a plea of guilty as charged.”
Williams’ attorney could not be reached for comment. Last week Goodin’s attorney Kyle Napier told Oney “there was no intent to murder anyone.”
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