CANTON ‒ A man who fatally shot his mother’s fiancé after the couple argued inside their northeast Canton home was found guilty Friday of involuntary manslaughter.
A Stark County Common Pleas Court jury also declared Savier D. Smiley, 19, guilty of aggravated assault and having weapons under disability in connection with the Oct. 20 shooting death of Dontae T. Crayton. The jury found he used a gun in each of the crimes, a specification that will require a three-year prison sentence to be served prior to any time ordered on the other offenses.
The jury found Smiley not guilty of murder and felonious assault.
He is scheduled to be sentenced Thursday.
Trial begins: Canton man claims self-defense for fatal shooting of his mother’s fiancé during argument
Savier Smiley was barred from having gun
The shooting occurred when Smiley was 18 years old and prohibited from having a gun because he was convicted in 2020 of a juvenile burglary charge, a crime that would have been a felony if he had been an adult at the time.
Assistant Stark County Prosecutor Kristen L. Mlinar and defense attorney Keith A. Warstler Jr. both told the jury in opening statements that the shooting followed an argument inside the Maple Avenue NE home between Crayton and Smiley’s mother Yolanda Jones, and that Crayton spat on Jones.
Warstler said Crayton, 37, pinned Jones against a wall and was spitting on her “like a worthless dog.” Warstler said Crayton provoked Smiley by spitting on his mother.
But Mlinar countered that Crayton didn’t injure anyone.
October 2023: Canton police charge teen with murder following fatal shooting
Charge says Dontae Crayton provoked defendant
The jury’s finding of guilt on the manslaughter and aggravated assault charges meant they saw the situation in the same way as the defense. The manslaughter charge said that Smiley killed Crayton while committing the crime of aggravated assault. The aggravated assault charge says Smiley shot Crayton in a sudden passion or fit of rage brought on by “serious provocation” by Crayton.
The murder charge had alleged that Smiley killed Crayton while committing the crime of felonious assault, an offense which carries no implication that the victim provoked the perpetrator.
The trial before Judge Natalie R. Haupt began with jury selection Monday afternoon, but took a break on Wednesday when the judge held pretrial conferences in other cases.
The judge told Smiley she will appoint an attorney for his appeal.
Reach Nancy at 330-580-8382 or [email protected]. On X, formerly known as Twitter: @nmolnarTR.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Savier Smiley found guilty of manslaughter in Dontae Crayton death
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