Two Valley men have pleaded "not guilty" to charges filed in connection with the deadly shooting of a Warren mail carrier.

Twenty-four-year-old Kaprise Sledge of Warren and 44-year-old Thomas Sledge of Youngstown appeared in federal court in Cleveland Friday for arraignment on charges filed in connection with the shooting death of mail carrier Jonte Davis in March of 2024.

Both are charged with one count each of murder of an officer and employee of the United States, as well as one count each of discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence.

The charges stem from an incident in March of 2024 when Davis was shot in his mail truck by suspects in a separate vehicle at the corner of Scott Street NE and Olive Avenue NE. The mail truck then drove off the road into a yard.

Davis died of his injuries in the hospital. It is believed that Davis and the suspects knew each other.

If convicted, the two suspects could face a maximum sentence of life in prison. 

Judge Donald Nugent set a trial date of December 9 and ordered that both men should remain in federal custody.

 

RELATED COVERAGE: