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LISBON -- There's still no resolution in the two weapons cases against convicted killer Justin Givens, with new trial dates set in January along with a final status conference
Givens, 28, formerly of Salineville, appeared via video from prison before Columbiana County Common Pleas Court Judge Scott Washam Monday morning for the two first-degree felony counts of possession of deadly weapons while under detention.
The indictments alleged he possessed a razor blade and a piece of copper fashioned into a weapon while incarcerated in the county jail. The razor blade incident occurred Oct. 26, 2022 and the copper weapon incident occurred April 4.
After speaking in private with his client via video, defense attorney James Wise indicated there was no resolution.
A final status hearing was set for 11:30 a.m. Jan. 4 for both cases, with a jury trial set for Jan. 8 for the case involving a razor blade and a jury trial of Jan. 11 set for the other case after Wise and county Assistant Prosecutor Tammie Riley Jone consulted with the judge.
Givens will have to be transported back to Columbiana County for the hearing and trials. He's been serving the sentence he received earlier this year for the murder of Mary Ann McGuire on March 18, 2022.
Givens recently filed an appeal to challenge the sentence of 23 years one month to possibly life for multiple counts, including murder, a gun specification for using a gun to commit the offense, grand theft when the property is a firearm or dangerous ordnance, two counts of tampering with evidence, aggravated possession of drugs, endangering children, improper handling of firearms in a motor vehicle, and another endangering children charge. The improper handling and second endangering children charge stemmed from a Dec. 26, 2021 traffic stop when he had a firearm in the vehicle with children present.