Erick Howard: 'There's No One Else to Blame'

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.

  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," …

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Ann Marie

2:23 pm on Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Wow isn't that the truth!!!   more ›

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.

  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 …

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Testimony Turns to DNA, Forensic Evidence

Jurors in the trial of Erick M. Howard heard from experts from Mercy Medical Center and the Canton-Stark County Crime Lab this morning

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 …

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Seth Obermiller Testifies Against Erick Howard in Home Invasion Trial

Obermiller testified this morning that Howard helped him plot the robbery of a young North Canton couple

This morning, jurors in the Erick Howard trial heard from the man Howard reportedly tied up and robbed. They also listened to testimony from Seth R. Obermiller, 19, who already has been sentenced to seven years in prison for his connection to Aug. 20 home invasion. Obermiller, who testified today as part of a plea agreement, told the courtroom he and Howard were high on acid and marijuana when they decided to rob a young couple who live in a townhouse in the 1100 block of Sunford Avenue. Jury members heard Monday from the female victim, who was raped that night, and the victim's mother and friend. Police say Howard and Obermiller used duct tape to tie up the two victims. Then Howard raped the woman and both men robbed the couple at …

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Jury Selection Continues Tuesday in Erick Howard Trial

Attorneys will likely wrap up jury selection and opening statements before lunchtime Tuesday

Attorneys plugged through jury selection all day today and will continue first thing Tuesday morning in the trial of Erick M. Howard. More than 70 potential jurors were called into Stark County Common Pleas Court, and the court dismissed 26 today. The rest will return at 8:30 Tuesday morning. Attorneys expect to deliver opening statements by lunchtime. Howard, 20, of North Canton, is accused of breaking into an apartment at Sunford Avenue SE Aug. 20. Police say he used duct tape to tie up a man and woman, raped the woman and robbed them both at gunpoint. Two others already have pleaded and been sentenced for their involvement. Howard turned himself in Oct. 4 and is charged with aggravated burglary, aggravated robbery, rape and kidnapping, …

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Erick Howard Rejects 12-Year Plea Deal

His trial in Stark County Common Pleas Court is slated for Jan. 30

Judge Allows YouTube Identification as Evidence in Erick Howard Case

Judge Taryn Heath overruled a motion to suppress evidence today in Stark County Common Pleas Court

Defense Attorney Rufus Sims argued today that evidence submitted in the case against his client, Erick Howard, would lead to an unfair trial. Howard, a two-time Ohio Mr. Football recipient and Hoover High grad, is accused of breaking into an apartment at Sunford Avenue SE Aug. 20. Police say he used duct tape to tie up a man and woman, raped the woman and robbed them both at gunpoint. Two others already have pleaded and been sentenced for their involvement. Howard turned himself in Oct. 4 and is charged with aggravated burglary, aggravated robbery, rape and kidnapping, all carrying a firearm specification. Today Sims argued that the female victim's identification of Howard was unreliable and should not be admissible as evidence in the case…

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Home Invasion Suspect Sentenced To Seven Years in State Correctional Institute

Seth R. Obermiller, 19, of North Canton, was sentenced to seven years for his role in a home invasion and rape Aug. 20

Seth R. Obermiller, 19, was sentenced to seven years in a state correctional institute for tying up a couple in their Sunford Avenue SE apartment, holding them at gunpoint and raping the female resident Aug. 20. Obermiller, who turned himself in Sept. 29, had pleaded guilty earlier this month to charges of kidnapping, aggravated burglary and aggravated robbery, with all charges accompanied by gun specifications. He was sentenced today in Judge Taryn L. Heath's courtroom in Stark County Common Pleas Court. Obermiller's other sentencing requirements include serving a three-year term consecutive to other years served for using a firearm. Once out of prison, he is required to serve five years probation, according to Judge Heath.  Co-defendant …

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