YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - One of two Youngstown brothers, whom police say targeted real estate agents for robberies, is sentenced in a Mahoning County court.
Thirty-year old Paul Brooks was back in court for sentencing after changing his plea to guilty on charges of aggravated robbery and kidnapping.
Prosecutors say Brooks helped his brother, Robert, lure a female real estate agent to a property in Boardman where he then robbed her at gunpoint.
Prior to hearing his sentence, Brooks made a brief apology.
"I would like to take full responsibility and say that I'm sorry for all the time and trouble that I've caused," Brooks said.
Judge James Evans sentenced Brooks to 11 years with credit for time served since his 2010 arrest.
It was just five days after the Boardman robbery that another realtor, Vivian Martin, was found strangled and burned in a vacant house in Youngstown that authorities say she was expecting to show to potential clients. Instead, the 67-year old victim was robbed of $56 and killed.
Police later charged Robert Brooks and Grant Cooper of Brookfield with Martin's murder.
"Paul and Robert were together in Boardman committing the robbery and then Robert and Grant were together committing the murder in Youngstown," according to Assistant Prosecutor Dawn Cantalamessa.
Prosecutors say Paul Brooks had the perfect alibi in the Martin case, because he was at home being questioned by Boardman detectives.
"We believe the murder was occurring at that same moment," Cantalamessa said.
Both Robert Martin and Cooper remain jailed awaiting trial dates for murder, robbery, arson and kidnapping.
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2013 Worldnow and WFMJ. All Rights Reserved. For more information on this site, please read our Privacy Policy and Terms
