Monday, March 25, 2013
The man sentenced to 30 yeas after being found guilty of aggravated burglary, aggravated robbery, rape and kidnapping — is opening up in an exclusive interview.
The Canton Repository talked to Erick Howard at the Lebanon Correctional Institute a little more than a year into his 30-year prison sentence for robbing and raping a female victim during a home invasion. A 12-person jury found Howard guilty of aggravated burglary, aggravated robbery, rape and kidnapping, all carrying firearm specifications. He joined two others in tying up and robbing a North Canton couple in their home Aug. 20, 2012. Howard, who says he's innocent and has an appeal in the works, agreed to talk to The Canton Repository under one condition — the reporter not mention the conviction or the crimes. Read the entire six-page report where Howard, 21, opens up about his football career and how drugs and injury landed him in …
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Got a sec? That's all it takes to get caught up with the most popular stories from the past week.
1. It's certainly not the end of the road for Amelia Finefrock, 17, of North Canton. She announced on her Facebook page this week that her American Idol stint was up. Feel free to offer up words of encouragement on our latest update. (And don't worry — she's got her chin up and isn't slowing down from here!) 2. Erick Howard was sentenced to 30 years in prison Tuesday for his role in an Aug. 20 home invasion and rape. Howard, 20, of North Canton, told a full courtroom that day that he was sorry for everyone involved in the attack, and there was no one to blame but himself. 3. We announced this week that the Rotary Club of North Canton will use the money from today's Chili Open Golf Classic and Viking Challenge Run to help build an …
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Howard, 20, of North Canton, was found guilty last week of committing a home invasion and rape. He was sentenced for those crimes Tuesday in Stark County Common Pleas Court.
- POLICE & FIRE
- Morgan Day
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Wednesday, February 8, 2012
The Erick Howard who broke into a home and raped a woman, the Erick Howard who sat in shackles wearing a red jail jumpsuit and awaiting his sentence for a crime — it wasn't the Erick Howard that Don Hertler Jr. knew. Hertler, head football coach for Hoover High School and friend of Howard, told Judge Taryn L. Heath about the young Erick Howard — a kid who got thrown into a detention center after fighting with someone who called him the N-word. Howard's been fatherless since age 5 and has been a son to Hertler, who doesn't have kids of his own. Howard had spent nine months living with Hertler during his junior year of high school, when he began making a name for himself on the football field. "Some kids need guidance more than others," …
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
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.
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 …
Monday, February 6, 2012
Find out how to take part in the Rotary Club's Chili Open and Viking Challenge Run this weekend. Plus, see what else is happening in North Canton this week!
1. Howard sentencing Tuesday: Erick Howard, who was found guilty last week on several felony charges, is slated to be sentenced Tuesday. Howard, 20, of North Canton, broke into a young North Canton couple's apartment Aug. 20, tied up the couple and robbed them. He also raped the woman. Keep an eye out for our coverage that day. 2. Planning Commission meeting: The North Canton Planning Commission plans to meet at 7 p.m. in North Canton City Hall Wednesday. On the agenda is the final site review for the expansion of Walsh University's Lemmon Hall. (Full agenda in the PDFs section of this update.) 3. Wine Not Support the Arts?: Have plans tonight? Organized by New Work City Foundation, Wine Not Support the Arts kicks off at the Barrel Room …
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Don't miss a beat when it comes to North Canton news! Check out our weekly recap.
1. The Hoover High grad and two-time Mr. Football recipient Erick Howard was found guilty of taking part in an Aug. 20 home invasion and rape. We spent our week in Stark County Common Pleas Court bringing you daily coverage of the trial. 2. We spotlighted two educational assistants at Greentown Elementary this week. Take a minute to read about Heidi Nudo and Darlene Pryse! 3. A North Canton man crashed his Jeep into the Schaub Electric building this week. Police say alcohol likely had something to do with it. 4. A former North Canton YMCA employee is accused of stealing more than $100,000 from the North Canton YMCA Child Care Center. This week we reported Caroline Y. Hawley faces a felony charge of aggravated theft. 5. And, on a lighter …
Friday, February 3, 2012
A jury returned guilty verdicts on all counts about 6:15 p.m. today
With a swift pat on the back, Defense Attorney Rufus Sims gave Erick Howard one last piece of advice before police escorted him out of the courtroom today. "Stay strong," Sims told Howard, who was just found guilty on several felony charges following a three day-long trial in Stark County Common Pleas Court. A 12-member jury found Howard guilty on all counts — aggravated burglary, aggravated robbery, rape and kidnapping, all carrying firearm specifications. He joined two others in tying up and robbing a North Canton couple in their home Aug. 20. Howard also raped the female victim. He's slated to be sentenced at 1 p.m. Tuesday in Judge Taryn L. Heath's courtroom. He faces 31 years in prison. In Assistant County Prosecutor Chryssa Hartnett'…
Thursday, February 2, 2012
The jury broke for deliberation about 2:30 p.m. today
- POLICE & FIRE
- Morgan Day
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Thursday, February 2, 2012
Erick Howard was caught on tape at Wal-Mart buying supplies to use in the Aug. 20 home invasion, Stark County Assistant Prosecutor Chryssa Hartnett said. There are incriminating phone records and firsthand accounts from co-defendants who implicated him. And a victim even identified Howard as the person who tied her up, robbed her and raped her in her bedroom, Hartnett said today during her closing arguments in Howard's trial. "To believe it was someone other than Erick Howard in that room, you would have to believe the mother of all coincidences has occurred and the stars have aligned to make all these other things coincidental." Hartnett presented her closing arguments about 12:45 p.m. today along with Rufus Sims, who's representing …
Jurors in the trial of Erick M. Howard heard from experts from Mercy Medical Center and the Canton-Stark County Crime Lab this morning
- POLICE & FIRE
- Morgan Day
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Thursday, February 2, 2012
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Chryssa Hartnett called her last witness this morning in the case of Erick M. Howard, who's accused of breaking into the home of a North Canton couple, tying them up and robbing them Aug. 20. Jurors heard from two experts from the Canton-Stark County Crime Lab and a sexual assault nurse examiner coordinator from Mercy Medical Center today — the third day of testimony. The woman recalled the injuries of the female victim, who said Howard inserted either his gloved fingers or the tip of a gun into her vagina. "Her story and injuries were consistent with the history she gave me," she said. Jurors also heard from two experts with the Canton-Stark County Crime Lab. They testified regarding DNA evidence found on …
Defense Attorney Rufus Sims asked Michael A. Taylor and Seth R. Obermiller why they lied to North Canton police. Both men testified Wednesday against Erick M. Howard, who is accused of joining them in an Aug. 20 home invasion.
- POLICE & FIRE
- Morgan Day
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Thursday, February 2, 2012
The two men found guilty for their involvement in an Aug. 20 home invasion testified against Erick M. Howard Wednesday, saying they lied to police to either save themselves or their friend. Seth R. Obermiller and Michael A. Taylor testified that day in Howard's trial as part of a plea agreement and told Defense Attorney Rufus Sims they weren't truthful when questioned by North Canton police. Howard, 20, is accused of breaking into the home of a young North Canton couple, tying them up in their bedroom and robbing them at gunpoint. The Hoover High grad and two-time Mr. Football recipient also is accused of raping the female victim. He's charged with aggravated burglary, aggravated robbery, rape and kidnapping, all carrying a firearm …
Chuck Osborne
7:58 pm on Saturday, February 11, 2012
Regarding the proposed amphitheater for Bitzer Park, I would like to ask how many pounds of potatoes can one put in a 10-pound sack. I ask this because Bitzer Park is a very little park. The Veterans War Memorial that was placed in Bitzer is tremendously oversized for the park for starters. The Veterans Memorial is already being used as staging area for every event put on in the city as it is. … more ›