Erick Howard Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison

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 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 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 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

Rape Victim Testifies in Erick Howard Trial