Teen admits role in North Linden killing

A 17-year-old Northwest Side boy on Friday admitted his role in a robbery that turned deadly at a North Linden house eight months ago.

Camden W. Jester, who turns 18 next week, will be sentenced to 15 years in an adult prison if Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Chris Brown follows a recommendation from prosecutors and defense attorneys as part of a plea agreement.

Jester pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, aggravated robbery and a gun specification in the May 1 shooting death of 18-yearold Alexander Lorms. He is scheduled to be sentenced by Brown on Feb. 15.

A co-defendant in the case, Ralph E. Barrie, 18, is accused of being the triggerman, Prosecutor Ron O’Brien said. Barrie, of the Northwest Side, has a Feb. 5 trial date on charges of aggravated murder, aggravated robbery and aggravated burglary.

Jester and Barrie drove to a house in the 1900 block of Republic Avenue to rob Lorms under the guise of buying marijuana from him, O’Brien said. Lorms had sold marijuana to Barrie the previous day, he said.

After Jester and Barrie entered the house and pulled guns, Lorms tried to escape by running from the house. Barrie shot him four times in the back, O’Brien said. Barrie and Jester took marijuana, Xanax and a gun from the house before fleeing, he said.

Jester’s defense attorney, Robert Krapenc, said his client doesn’t dispute any of those facts.

Juvenile Court Judge Dana Preisse transferred Jester’s case to adult court in July. Jester originally was charged with a delinquency count of aggravated murder, which results in a mandatory transfer to adult court when a judge rules that there is enough evidence to establish a reasonable belief that the juvenile committed the crime.