A Summit County jury has found a 21 year-old Akron woman guilty of the meth-related death of her toddler son.

The jury found Heather Lerch guilty of murder, involuntary manslaughter, and child endangering.

Prosecutors say after Lerch and her 17 month-old son Patrick moved into the home of her boyfriend, 19 year-old Randy Legg, Patrick was kept in the basement near an active meth lab and rats.

Legg faces an October trial on involuntary manslaughter, child endangering and other charges. His 22 year-old brother Ronald has a September trial on murder and other charges.

Lerch will be sentenced in the courtroom of Judge Thomas Parker on September 25.

------------

SUMMIT COUNTY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE - news release

Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh announced today that a jury found Heather Lerch, 21, of St. Leger Avenue in Akron, guilty of Murder, Involuntary Manslaughter and Child Endangering for the February death of her 17-month-old son Patrick.

Patrick died February 26 after ingesting large amounts of methamphetamine. Lerch and her son moved into the home of her boyfriend, Randy Legg, on St. Leger Avenue just days before Patrick died. Patrick was kept in the home’s rat-infested basement in the care of two other men, who were cooking and high on meth throughout Patrick’s last days.

“This was a horrific crime, and I thank the jury for finding Heather Lerch guilty of killing her son,” said Prosecutor Walsh. “Patrick’s death is, unfortunately, a very sad example of how drugs – especially meth – ruin lives.”

Randy Legg, 19, is scheduled to go to trial October 4. He is charged with Involuntary Manslaughter, Child Endangering and several drug charges. His brother, Ronald Legg, 22, is scheduled to go to trial September 24 on charges of Murder, Involuntary Manslaughter, Child Endangering and several drug charges. A third man, Allen Kostra, 25, pleaded guilty to Involuntary Manslaughter, Child Endangering and Illegal Manufacture of Drugs. He testified for the State again Heather Lerch.

Judge Thomas Parker will sentence Lerch at 9:00 a.m. on September 25.

Freddie Mac is in trouble with Summit County.

The County Prosecutor's Office has filed a complaint in Summit County Common Pleas Court claiming the Federal home Loan Mortgage Corporation has failed to pay the county fees and taxes over the past six years.

Freddie Mac had claimed to be exempt from the taxes because it is a government entity, but the County claims Freddie Mac is a federally chartered private corporation, not a government entity.

Summit County further contends that  government entities are not exempt from excise taxes. Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh says Freddie Mac's failure to pay fees and transfer taxes on more than 3,500 real estate transactions amounts to nothing less than fraud.

The County is seeking repayment of all unpaid fees and transfer taxes, plus interest and penalties.

--------------------------------------------

News Release From The Summit County Prosecutor's Office

AKRON, OHIO – July 3, 2012 – Summit County Prosecuting Attorney Sherri Bevan Walsh today filed a complaint in Summit County Court of Common Pleas against Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, widely known as “Freddie Mac,” on behalf of Russell M. Pry, executive of Summit County, and Kristen M. Scalise, fiscal officer of Summit County. The complaint requests that Freddie Mac be ordered to pay restitution to Summit County for neglecting to pay fees and taxes over a six-year period. From 2002 through December 31, 2008, Freddie Mac failed to pay the fees or transfer taxes on more than 3,500 real estate transactions. Freddie Mac claimed to be exempt from those payments because it is a government entity. Summit County contends that Freddie Mac was fraudulent in this claim, as Freddie Mac is not a government entity, but rather it is a federally-chartered private corporation. Furthermore, the fees and transfer taxes on real estate transactions are an excise tax, not a direct tax. Government entities are not exempt from excise taxes. “Freddie Mac’s failure to pay fees and transfer taxes on these properties amounts to nothing less than fraud,” said Prosecutor Walsh. “That fraud came at significant expense to Summit County taxpayers, and I fully expect that the Court will order Freddie Mac to repay the money it owes to the citizens of Summit County.” Summit County is asking the Court to find that Freddie Mac committed fraud when it claimed to be exempt from real estate transfer fees and transfer taxes. The County is seeking repayment of all unpaid fees and transfer taxes plus interest and penalties.

An Akron man has been found guilty of charges that include trying to cover up his robbery by asking a store to replace the items he stole from them.

26-year old Rayonte Jones  went on a shopping spree with a stolen credit card in January after taking part in a robbery of a man at gunpoint.

Jones and his partner used the card at various stores, but got in  trouble by attempting to return the items they stole for refunds the very next day.

Stores such as Target keep track of all items that have been purchased electronically, and when Jones attempted to return the stolen goods, he was arrested on site.

Jones is facing various charges including aggravated robbery and receving stolen property. He will be sentenced in May.