Watkins opposes parole for convicted murderer

Inmate facing 20 years to life for violent death of elderly Warren man

A 51-year-old man convicted in a 1993 murder case is up for parole this summer, and the Trumbull County Prosecutor's Office is lobbying the Ohio Adult Parole Authority to keep him behind bars.

Sheldon Jackson is scheduled for a hearing before three members of the parole panel outside his Grafton Correctional Institution cell next month.

Jackson was sentenced to 20 years to life after Aug. 30, 1993, violent crimes with weapons against two elderly citizens in their southwest Warren home. Jackson was convicted of plunging a screwdriver into the elderly man, and he then "unmercifully beat and kicked" him to death, according to Prosecutor Dennis Watkins.

The prosecutor said he last wrote to the parole board 10 years ago before another hearing in which Jackson was denied parole.

Jackson has served 28 years and nine months in prison after he and his co-defendants Warren Cromety and Carvin Clemmons conspired to do harm to Theodore, 78, and Cathryn Emerson, 72. Theodore Emerson died in the attack and Cathryn Emerson was severely injured, eventually dying after the trio's incarceration, Watkins said.

Both Jackson and Cromety had pleaded guilty before a three-judge panel to the indictment charging them with aggravated murder with aggravating circumstances that reach death-penalty level offenses, aggravated burglary, aggravated robbery and robbery. After a mitigation hearing, they successfully avoided the death penalty, Watkins said.

Since his last parole hearing, Watkins noted that Jackson has been a "steady Eddie" in regard to his prison infraction record. Between 2013 and 2022, the record noted six violations.

"Jackson still seems to find illicit drugs to use (while in prison) … tested positive for T.H.C.," Watkins writes.

As with Cromety, who is serving a 25-year to life sentence also at Grafton with his next chance at parole in late 2026, Watkins is concerned that this duo may be playing the system, appearing to be more rehabilitated than they really are.

Calling it "learned remorse syndrome," Watkins thinks Jackson is not any better.

As he wrote in a letter opposing Cromety's parole, Watkins said: "This guy's pretending could result in dire consequences on society."

Watkins notes that since Cathryn Emerson's passing, the couple's daughter who lives out of state has been the victim's representative in these parole cases. She strongly opposes any release for Jackson and Cromety, the prosecutor said.

"Society cannot afford the likes of Jackson on the streets," Watkins writes, noting that he wants to see the parole board extend Jackson's prison stay for another 10 years to protect the public and "serve the interests of justice."

"Once out of prison, nothing would prevent Jackson from going to the local Ace -- the place with the hlepful hardware man -- to get another screwdriver," Watkins concludes his letter to the parole board.

Laura E. Austen, deputy director, Policy and Outreach for the Office of the Ohio Public Defender, said she does not comment on pending parole cases for inmates.