Erick Howard Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison
Howard, 20, of North Canton, was found guilty last week of committing a home invasion and rape. He was sentenced for those crimes today in Stark County Common Pleas Court.
Pdfs
Editor's note: North Canton Patch will have further coverage of today's sentencing hearing following this update.
Erick M. Howard was sentenced to 30 years in prison for his involvement in a home invasion and rape last year.
Howard, 20, of North Canton, broke into the a townhouse in the 1100 block of Sunford Avenue in North Canton in the early morning of Aug. 20. He and another man tied up a young couple and Howard raped the female resident before leaving with their cash and cellphones.
A jury found Howard guilty of aggravated burglary, aggravated robbery, rape and kidnapping, all carrying firearm specifications, after a three-day trial last week. Co-defendants Seth R. Obermiller, who helped rob the couple, and Michael A. Taylor, who served as the lookout that morning, both testified against Howard as part of a plea agreement.
Howard, a two-time Mr. Football recipient and former Hoover High football player, appeared in Stark County Common Pleas Court this afternoon, along with Defense Attorney Rufus Sims.
Judge Taryn L. Heath said Howard also will be classified as a Tier III sex offender and, upon release from prison, will spend five years on probation for each first-degree felony offense (three offenses) and three years on probation for the kidnapping charge.
"(You've shown) no moral compass regarding your behavior," she told Howard today.
Heath said the court could have sentenced Howard to 50 years in prison.
Here's how Howard's 30-year sentence breaks down: He received eight years in prison on each count of aggravated burglary, aggravated robbery, rape and kidnapping. The first three run consecutively to one another, while the sentence for kidnapping runs concurrently. Heath merged four fire arm specifications into two.
NORTH CANTON PATCH TRIAL COVERAGE
Erick Howard Guilty on All Charges
Testimony Turns to DNA, Forensic Evidence
Defense Attacks Credibility of Home Invasion Accomplices
Seth Obermiller Testifies Against Erick Howard in Home Invasion Trial
