Two women charged in the assault of a man at a central-city gas station entered pleas Tuesday as a co-defendant’s jury trial continued.
Shawna Merriweather, 31, of the 1400 block of Huron Street, and Shantay Saxton, 35, of the 4100 block of Burnham Avenue, each entered Alford pleas — not admitting guilt — to a count of aggravated assault, a fourth-degree felony.
With those pleas, charges of felonious assault and aggravated robbery will be dismissed.
Judge Myron Duhart could sentence the women to a maximum of 18 months in prison for participating in the Aug. 22 assault of a man at the Gas & Go, 1530 Cherry St. They will be sentenced on June 25.
In a separate case, Saxton also entered a plea to aggravated trafficking in drugs for selling fentanyl from her Burham Avenue residence in May, 2018. Police located digital scales and approximately 9.24 grams of fentanyl during the execution of a search warrant.
She faces up to 12 months in prison for that offense.
On Tuesday, assistant county prosecutor Sara Al-Sorghali said Merriweather and Saxton and the male victim — whom prosecutors requested not be named for safety reasons — were arguing over a gas pump and the incident quickly escalated. The victim began walking away from the argument when police say DeAngelo Gott, Jr., struck him from behind.
The women, along with a fourth assailant, Kevin Martin, joined in the assault and took various items from the victim, Ms. Al-Sorghali said. The victim was treated for seizures and a brain bleed.
Mr. Martin’s case is being presented to a jury this week, while Gott entered a plea Monday in connection to assaulting the man and participating in a criminal gang. On Tuesday, a jury heard testimony regarding the man’s injuries, as well as an initial introduction from an investigating gang task force detective who will continue testifying on Wednesday.
Mr. Martin faces up to 36 years in prison for this case.
First Published May 7, 2019, 8:57 p.m.
