Tiffany Powell

Background

Tiffany Powell was 34 years old, of Akron. She was in the middle of a custody battle when James Harris was killed on April 26, 2014. Powell faced between 20 years to life in prison prior to sentencing.

The offence

James Harris, 69, was Powell’s ex-boyfriend. Harris was the father of five of Powell’s eight children. He had been living in Canton and met with Powell’s plan under the guise of looking at a car and a washer he might want to purchase.

Prosecutors said Powell lured Harris, who lived in Canton, to Powell’s Akron home on April 26, 2014, where Paul Reed, Powell’s new boyfriend, beat Harris to death in the basement. Prosecutors said Harris went to the basement believing he would see a car and a washer.

Prosecutors said Reed attacked Harris by knocking him onto the concrete floor and slamming his head into the ground 15 times. Harris died of blunt force trauma.

Powell claimed during her jury trial that she got Harris to come to her home so that he would violate a restraining order that she mistakenly thought was still in place. She said the intent was for Harris to violate the order so that she could regain custody of and protect her children. Powell reiterated that claim during her remarks at sentencing.

A prosecutor described a plan in opening statements, saying it was “a set-up — perpetrated by Powell.” Defense counsel argued the opposite, saying: “I don’t believe there was any intent to kill,” and “It just happened.”

Defense counsel described the plan as one intended to get Harris arrested rather than killed. Defense counsel said: “There was a plan to get him arrested,” and “If anything happened other than that it wasn't intended by Ms. Powell. She never intended for anyone to get killed.”

People involved

Victims

James Harris (69), Powell’s ex-boyfriend and the father of five of her eight children, was beaten to death.

Harris had adult daughters, including Trina Danzy and Jamila Mitchell. Jamila Mitchell lived in Navarre. Another adult daughter was Jamila Mitchell, and another adult daughter was Trina Danzy.

Harris was described as a father of 10 and as having 14 grandchildren. He was described as an Akron teacher for 30 years, teaching special education, and as a track official at the University of Akron. During sentencing, his daughters described him as coaching track and starting “Ebony Stars,” a track club for inner-city youths.

Defendants and associates

Paul Reed was Powell’s new boyfriend. He was 40, of Akron, and was convicted in February 2015 of murder for Harris’ death and sentenced to life in prison; he was appealing.

Tiffany Powell was convicted of being the mastermind behind the beating death of James Harris.

A 19-year-old woman was described as the person Powell paid or recruited to contact Harris and arrange for him to come to the Minota Avenue home under the guise of seeing a car and a washer. Prosecutors said she was not charged in the case.

Harris’s adult son and five daughters were described as sitting in a van in the driveway of the home during the attack, and they did not know what happened until police arrived.

Investigation and legal proceedings

Powell was charged with aggravated murder and obstructing justice. During the trial, she admitted to lying to detectives, including not telling them about the involvement of Powell’s friend.

Powell testified and described a tumultuous on-again/off-again relationship with Harris. She said she still cared for Harris and didn’t want to see him harmed. She told the court: “You told me to tell the truth,” and “The truth is I didn’t know or want for this to happen.”

During her trial, Reed testified against the advice of his attorney and took responsibility for Harris’ death. Reed described a plan that was supposed to lure Harris to Akron to catch him violating a protection order that Powell thought was still in place. Reed testified that they had “a plan and it went wrong.”

When asked by Powell’s attorney Kerry O’Brien, Reed said: “Yes, sir,” and “I did.”

Trial

Charges and verdict

A jury found Powell guilty of aggravated murder and obstructing justice. The jury had seven women and five men.

The jurors deliberated Friday for about six hours after verdict forms were completed.

Powell’s trial started last Thursday in Judge Tom Teodosio’s courtroom. Assistant Prosecutor Jonathan Baumoel cross-examined Powell after Reed’s testimony and then closing arguments were to follow.

Opening statements

Assistant Prosecutor Jonathan Baumoel said to jurors in opening statements that Powell was the mastermind behind a scheme, saying: “It was a set-up — perpetrated by Powell.”

Defense attorney Kerry O’Brien argued that Powell never intended to harm Harris, saying: “I don’t believe there was any intent to kill,” and “It just happened.”

O’Brien also described that Powell “devised a ‘pretty hare-brained’ idea to lure Harris to Akron so the police could catch him violating the protection order.” O’Brien said: “The state would like you to believe there was a plan to kill,” and “Nowhere in any message is there any discussion of hurting anybody.”

O’Brien urged the jury: “Keep an open mind,” and added: “The real issue is: Did she intend to kill? My firm belief and what you will find is that she did not.”

Sentencing

At her sentencing Thursday morning, Powell made an odd request: she said she did not want to be there. Her inquiry prompted attorneys and the judge to see whether she could be sentenced without being present in the Summit County courtroom. Powell ultimately relented, sitting the whole time while shielding her face with her hands and a tissue rather than standing.

Powell told the court: “I didn’t want this to happen,” and “I would never want my children to look at their mom and say, ‘You killed dad.’”

Summit County Common Pleas Judge Tom Teodosio sentenced Powell to life in prison for aggravated murder and 30 months for obstructing justice, with the terms to be served consecutively. The court said she would be eligible for parole after 30 years and 30 months.

Teodosio also said Powell lured Harris to her home and to his death, and said their relationship facilitated his death while showing “little or no remorse.” Teodosio also said the consecutive sentences were appropriate because of her “danger to the public.”

Kerry O’Brien objected to the consecutive sentences and was overruled by Teodosio. O’Brien also asked Teodosio to put in a request with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction that Powell serve her time at the Marysville prison. Teodosio refused and said he would allow the prison department to decide where Powell should be housed.

Assistant Summit County Prosecutor Jonathan Baumoel urged Teodosio to sentence Powell to life in prison, saying: “She planned to take the life of James Harris,” and Powell replied: “That’s a lie,” prompting a warning to remain quiet.

Trina Danzy spoke during sentencing, reminiscing about her father. She said he wasn’t like how he was portrayed during the trials of Reed and Powell. She said Harris was a loving father who instilled in his children a love of God and an appreciation for education. She said he coached track and started “Ebony Stars,” a track club for inner-city youths. She said: “I miss dad so much,” trying to stifle her tears.

Jamila Mitchell, another of Harris’s adult daughters, said she didn’t plan to speak but had to after hearing Powell’s remarks. She called Powell a liar, manipulator, and a neglectful mother who had not accepted responsibility for her role in Harris’s death. Mitchell said: “Now, you’re a killer,” and “The only victim here is my father.” Mitchell said Powell never cried after Harris’s death, and said: “The tears you see are something for herself.”

Appeals

Powell planned to appeal.

Reed was appealing his conviction as well. He was convicted in February 2015 and sentenced to life in prison, and was appealing.

Outcome

Powell was sentenced to life in prison for aggravated murder and 30 months for obstructing justice, with the terms to be served consecutively. She would be eligible for parole after 30 years and 30 months.