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WARREN -- The Ohio Parole Board on Friday scheduled a full hearing Oct. 18 for a man convicted of murder and other charges in 1993.
Trumbull County Prosecutor Dennis Watkins sent letters on April 20 and in 2013 opposing the release of Sheldon Jackson, 52, from Grafton Correctional Institute.
Watkins' April letter stated, "Though Jackson's disciplinary history of infractions in prison has gone down since I last wrote the board in 2013 (and when the board ruled he would not get another parole hearing for 10 years, the maximum period provided by law), I would observe, however, that Jackson has been a "Steady Eddie" in that regard! (six violations listed between 2013 and 2020."
The prosecutor's office states Jackson was convicted of aggravated murder, attempted murder, aggravated burglary, aggravated robbery and robbery when he and two others, Warren Cromety and Carvin Clemmons, conspired on Aug. 30, 1993, to commit multiple violent crimes against Theodore Emerson, 78, and Cathryn Emerson, 72, on the southwest side of Warren.
Jackson and Cromety pleaded guilty before a three-judge panel to multiple offenses, and received life sentences with 20 years minimum. Clemmons received a 10- to 25-year sentence for involuntary manslaughter. In Clemmons' statement to the courts, he said Jackson either hit or punched Theodore, then pushed him down basement steps. Soon after, Clemmons saw Jackson hit Theodore around his neck with a screwdriver. BCI and police reports stated that the screwdriver was plunged into Theodore's neck. Cromety stabbed Cathryn multiple times with a knife, but she survived the attack.
Jackson has been written up multiple times over his years of imprisonment for unauthorized possession or consumption of illegal drugs, stealing or embezzlement, having an innapropriate personal relationship with a staff member and threats to officers, according to Watkins' letter. He has served 29 years and three months.
After the incident, some personal items and $46 were missing from the home, and Cathryn was hospitalized for a little less than two weeks in critical condition, according to a Repeat Violent Offenders newsletter. After the invasion, Cathryn moved to Pennsylvania, and, after being unavailable to testify because of her injuries, she died.
Prior to the day of the home invasion, Jackson and his co-defendants allegedly attacked another couple on the street and robbed them.
In Watkins' 2013 letter to attorney Cynthia Mausser, chair of the Ohio Adult Parole Authority, he said, "This sociopath should never ever be released."