DeJuan Lucas is on trial for the charges of involuntary manslaughter and corrupting another with drugs, plus numerous drug trafficking and possession charges. He's accused of selling the drugs that led to the death of Dino Gerdeman during a party that was thrown in a Lima hotel in May of 2020. Prosecutors say that Gerdeman asked Kaelonda Peoples-Fuqua to get drugs for the party and she did from Lucas. The defense attorney says that Lucas admitted to selling drugs but did not sell the drugs that killed Gerdeman. The trial will resume on Tuesday.

Dejuan Lucas originally pleaded guilty to possession of heroin and fentanyl charges and also corrupting another with drugs. But since he withdrew his guilty plea, Judge Terri Kohlrieser says she will not accept any more plea deals and set a July trial date for all 12 charges against him. Not only is he facing drug trafficking and possession charges, but also involuntary manslaughter for allegedly selling the drugs that led to the overdose death of Dino Gerdeman in 2020.

Dejaun Lucas tried to get his bond reduced a couple of weeks before his trial was set to begin on March 1st, the judge denied that request. Lucas has pleaded not guilty to corrupting another with drugs and involuntary manslaughter. The indictment says Lucas provided the fentanyl-laced drugs that led to the overdose death of Dino Gerdeman in a Lima motel back in May of 2020.

2020 was already a difficult year. And for the City of Lima it was an unusual year when it comes to crime. Lima Police Department handled 12 homicides, up from the average 5 murders a year for the last few years. LPD has arrested at least one person in each case.

Jan. 20 Dan Jackson was shot and killed while standing behind pappy’s lounge after the bar had closed. Police believe two teens are responsible and they have since been arrested.

On Feb.4, Levels Lounge was the site of a violent triple murder. A gun fight left Terrell McGraw and Devontae Upshaw dead inside the bar and Timothy White was found dead on a nearby sidewalk. Deontray Forrest has been charged for two of the murders with criminal gang charges attached to them. The bar has since closed.

The attorney for Kae'londa Peoples-Fuqua filed two motions to suppress what she said in two recorded instances.

The first instance was recorded on body cam footage when Peoples-Fuqua was talking to officers inside the Lima Police Department. The second instance was during her second formal interview with detectives. She's been charged with corrupting another with drugs and involuntary manslaughter for the death of Dino Gerdeman. Police found Geredman dead in a room at the Travelodge. Her attorney previously said Peoples-Fuqua was an employee of Gerdeman's and instructed to buy the drugs. Dejuan Morris has also been charged in the case for allegedly providing the drugs that killed Gerdeman.

We've been following some high profile criminal cases the last few months and legal action has been taken against several people. Our Eran Hami fills us in how their cases have moved forward. The Allen County Grand Jury has handed down indictments for several individuals suspected of crimes that we’ve reported on in the last few months.

A Lima woman accused of providing drugs that killed a man last week made her first court appearance. 19-year-old Kea'londa Peoples-Fuqua waived her preliminary hearing in Lima Municipal Court. Her case will move over to Allen County Common Pleas Court to be heard by a grand jury.