Also life term for 2014 Wilmington murder; Others face prison for child pornography and burglary convictions. 

A 2017 fatal shootout in Dover has led to life sentences for two Maryland men. A Superior Court jury in April 2018 convicted Guy Jones, 28, and DePaul Wilson, 37, both of Worton, MD, of Murder First Degree, Murder Second Degree, Attempted Robbery First Degree, 2 counts of Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, and one count of Conspiracy Second Degree for the killing of 31-year-old Javan Cale. In January 2017, Jones and Wilson went to Cale’s home in the Clearfield Apartments in Dover to rob him. Cale tried to fight and the three men exchanged gunfire. Cale died as the result of three gunshots, while Jones and Wilson, both shot numerous times, survived their injuries. A judge sentenced both Jones and Wilson to life plus 30 years in prison. Deputy Attorneys General Stephen Welch and Sean Motoyoshi prosecuted the case with assistance from, paralegal Sue Balik, victims services social worker Kerry McElwee, special investigator Pete Fraley, and administrative assistants Donna Harris, Samantha Huey and Chenelle Carroll. Detective Nate Warren of the Dover Police Department was the chief investigating officer.

A Superior Court judge sentenced a 29-year-old Wilmington man to spend the rest of his life in prison for a 2014 murder in Wilmington. Deputy Attorney General Matthew Frawley secured the sentence for Demonte Johnson. In the early evening of May 27, 2014, Alphonso Boyd, 28, returned to the 1100 block of Conrad Street where he lived. After talking to people in the area, he approached Johnson and the two began to argue. Johnson produced a .32 caliber semi-automatic firearm and shot Boyd in the back as Boyd attempted to flee. In February 2018, a Superior Court jury convicted Johnson of Murder First Degree, Possession of a Deadly Weapon During the Commission of a Felony, and Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited. The Court sentenced Johnson, barred from having a gun because of a previous robbery conviction, to life plus 25 years in prison, followed by 6 months of either work release or home confinement. Detective Tom Curley of the Wilmington Police Department investigated the case along with DOJ investigators Brian Daly, John Ciritella and Cliff Dempsey. Social worker Courtney Cochran, paralegal Stacey Coupe and Gary Taylor, director of the DOJ Victim/Witness Assistance Program, also worked on the case.

Deputy Attorney General William Leonard secured a prison sentence for Nate Marsh, 38, of Wilmington, for his role in break-ins throughout New Castle County. In March 2018, a Superior Court jury convicted Marsh of Burglary Second Degree, 2 counts of Conspiracy Second Degree, Theft, and Criminal Mischief. During the summer of 2017, Marsh broke into homes taking items including televisions, video game systems, and money. Because of previous convictions on robbery, assault, and reckless endangering charges, a judge sentenced Marsh a habitual offender to 9 years in prison, followed by 18 months of probation. The judge also ordered Marsh to pay restitution of $3,800. The chief investigating officer was John Mancuso of the New Castle County Police, with social worker Kristen Fluharty-Emory and paralegal Donna Lee assisting with the prosecution.

A 40-year-old Millsboro man will spend time in prison and register as a sex offender after his sentencing on child pornography charges. In December 2017, officers conducting an online investigation traced a pornographic video file that was being shared with other users to a device in Millsboro. Armed with a search warrant a few weeks later, police arrested Steve Zazanis II and confiscated his cellphone, which contained images of child pornography. In June 2018, Zazanis pled guilty to 2 counts of Dealing in Child Pornography. A Superior Court judge sentenced Zazanis, who will register as a Tier 2 sex offender, to 4 years in prison followed by 8 years of probation. The case was investigated and prosecuted by the Child Predator Task Force.

A guilty plea to a 2017 burglary has led to a prison sentence as a habitual offender for a Wilmington man. Deputy Attorney General Monil Amin secured the sentence for 33-year-old George Lacey. In August 2017, just after getting off probation for a weapons conviction, Lacey used a brick to smash the glass of the rear door of a home under renovation in the 700 block of Kirkwood Street in Wilmington and stole a kitchen light fixture. In May 2018, Lacey pled guilty to Burglary Third Degree and Conspiracy Second Degree. Because of previous felony convictions on drug, weapons, and burglary charges, a Superior Court judge sentenced Lacey to 4 years in prison, followed by 6 months of either home confinement or work release, then 1 year of probation.

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