Mahoning County Prosecutor opposes parole for man convicted of murdering victim over $8
Mahoning County Prosecutor Gina DeGenova has expressed her objections to the parole of a man convicted of murdering a woman over $8 in 1996.
According to DeGenova, Johnny Lynn was convicted of murder by a jury in September of 1996 for the murder of Tonya North in July of that same year. He was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison.
DeGenova says Lynn has a history of criminal activity spanning over three different states including Indiana, Michigan and Ohio.
In Indiana and Michigan, Lynn had been convicted of resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, assault on a peace officer, carrying a dangerous knife, theft escape and burglary.
Eventually, Lynn relocated to Ohio where he lived in the same neighborhood as North, who occasionally sold him drugs. On July 3, the two got into an argument related to a transaction of $8.
Later in the day, the two ran into each other again and got into a physical fight which ultimately led to the fatal stabbing of North.
Police eventually found Lynn in his basement with a bloody knife in very close proximity to him.
According to DeGenova, Lynn showed no remorse for his actions, with witnesses saying he planned to kill her over the money with one witness claiming Lynn told them North "wouldn't make it to see the fourth of July."
DeGenova says even after being arrested, Lynn showed no remorse stating "the [expletive] gave me some bad [expletive] so I stuck her."
"No factors justify inmate Lynn's release at this time. Lynn has a history of violent criminal activity culminating in the vicious and senseless murder of an acquaintance over $8. Lynn's history demonstrates an inability to conform to societal norms and laws and his time in prison demonstrates similar conduct," DeGenova said.