A man who was found guilty of several charges connected with a 2024 murder in Youngstown has learned his fate.

Forty-year-old Andre Bailey was sentenced to 39 years to life in prison on charges of aggravated murder, murder, robbery, tampering with evidence and a weapons violation.

Bailey was found guilty of these crimes in March.

Judge Scott Krichbaum cited Bailey's multi-state criminal history and drug trafficking as reasons for the sentence, as well as a lack of genuine remorse.

The charges stem from the murder of 24-year-old Reynaldo Hernandez back in October of 2024. Hernandez was killed in a home on Bott Street after Bailey accused him of stealing money from him.

The prosecution said other people were in the home at the time of the murder with some of them taking Hernandez's body to the Veterans Memorial Park Cemetery near Liberty Road and Wardle Avenue.

Two members of the Hernandez family were in court for the sentencing, and relatives of Bailey's were there, too.

Mahoning County Chief of the Criminal Division John Juhasz said what stood out about this case was the brutal acts that occurred when Hernandez was shot, as he was left stumbling down a driveway and then laid there before Bailey and others dumped his body at a cemetery.

Juhasz said Thursday's sentence sends a message that violent crime is not going to be tolerated in Youngstown.

"It also says that if you're going to deal drugs, guns go with that, and violence comes out of that, and we're going to do everything we can to stop that," he said. 

Defense Attorney Walter Madison said Bailey is planning to file an appeal. 

Madison had requested 20 years to life, but said he has deep sympathy for Hernandez's family and respects their grace after having conversations with them through the court process.

"You spend this much time talking about an incident, and you realize the family, the victims' families, are present, they're listening," he said, "It's only decent and right to make that human connection, they understood, and it was very graceful of them to be supportive of Mr. Bailey."

There are still two suspects at large who are charged in this case.

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