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MAYVILLE – The 22-year-old who plead guilty in the 2017 stabbing death of a Jamestown man was sentenced in the case on Wednesday morning.
Chautauqua County Court Judge David Foley sentenced Tavion Turner to 21-years behind bars with five years of post-release supervision.
In July, Turner took a reduced plea deal on the morning the murder trial against him was set to get underway. He plead guilty to first-degree manslaughter and waived his right to appeal.
Prior to sentencing, Turner filled a motion to withdraw his guilty plea.
“I feel like the council (Jamestown Attorney Avery Olson) pressured me to take a plea deal,” Turner said in court Wednesday. He then requested new representation.
Olson indicated to the court that he and Turner had several conversations about a potential plea deal.
Judge Foley explained that he doesn’t believe Mr. Olson did anything incorrect and the motion was denied.
Several family members of Ownbey submitted victim impact statements to the court, while the statements were read, Turner looked visibly defeated, and visibly distraught.
Turner apologized to the family in a statement, adding that he wants them to know he is sorry.
The people requested the maximum sentence under the deal, 22-years behind bars, while Olson requested the minimum of 18-years, citing that Turner is “remorseful” and that Turner has been cooperating and chose to spare the family from a trial.
He was previously charged with two counts of second-degree murder for his alleged role in the stabbing death of Ownbey.
Turner was immediately remanded to the custody of New York State Corrections.
The Erie County District Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case on behalf of the people.
Olsen declined further comment following the hearing, WNY News Now has a request for comment in the DA’s office.
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