“Why would I want you not to have less than being locked away for the rest of your life like my son is locked away in a pine box?” she asked.
Summit County Common Pleas Judge Kelly McLaughlin sentenced Pittman to life in prison with possible parole after 24 years. The maximum he could have gotten was another eight years before being up for parole.Pittman, 24, of Akron, plans to appeal. He claimed self-defense. Prosecutors said Pittman and Cenqunn Woods, who are friends, robbed Diamond Smith’s fiancée on June 5, 2018, at the couple’s Spring Hill apartment.Diamond Smith, who returned home immediately after the robbery, chased after the two men. Pittman and Smith, 27, fought and both were shot, with Smith’s wounds proving fatal. Woods fled and wasn’t involved in the confrontation.Pittman was convicted by a Summit County jury in December of murder that involves a death as the result of a robbery or burglary. He also was found guilty of aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary and tampering with evidence.
Jurors acquitted Pittman of aggravated murder and murder that means to purposely cause a death. Had he been convicted of aggravated murder, he could have faced a sentence of life without parole.Woods, also 24 and from Akron, pleaded guilty in December to murder and aggravated robbery. He was sentenced to life in prison with possible parole after 15 years, the penalty agreed to by attorneys. At Woods’ sentencing, Lynda Smith embraced Woods’ family members and said she doesn’t hold him as responsible for her son’s death as Pittman. At Pittman’s sentencing, Smith talked about struggling with feeling sorry for Pittman. She said she talked to her pastor about this and he told her, “That’s the Christ in you.”Smith said she was angered, though, by lies that were said during Pittman’s trial and for how Pittman didn’t take responsibility for what he did. She said she’s also saddened by how her son was killed over 28 $1 bills and how her grandson has been left without a father.
“I still have to have mercy on you,” she said to Pittman. “I can only pray that this time away will teach you how to live in society. “Steven Wyatt, a long-time friend of Diamond Smith, said he can’t get past how his friend was killed in this “stupid, senseless act.”
“God says forgive,” he said. “I’m not God. I will never forgive you.”
Assistant Prosecutor Rick Raley urged McLaughlin to impose the maximum possible sentence. Nathan Ray and Joe Gorman, Pittman’s attorneys, however, asked McLaughlin to impose the minimum sentence of life with possible parole after 18 years. Ray said Pittman grew up in foster care and was adopted at a young age. He said Lynda Smith was correct that Pittman never had anyone in court on his behalf.
“He stands here today on his own,” Ray said.
Ray pointed to Pittman’s lack of a prior adult criminal record
“I don’t believe there was any anticipation this would escalate the way it did,” Ray said. “It went further than he ever thought it would.”
Pittman spoke briefly, apologizing for what happened.
“I made a bad decision,” he said.
After the sentencing, Lynda Smith said she was satisfied with the outcome. She said Pittman won’t be on the streets to harm anyone else.
“I’m glad this is behind me,” she said. “I can move on.”
