A Franklin County jury has convicted a young man of aggravated murder and other charges after his accomplices pleaded guilty – including his stepfather, who took a plea deal with prosecutors to get his stepson a better plea deal.
Justus Robertson, 20, would not take a plea deal and fought his charges at trial this week in Franklin County Common Pleas Court.
Now, Robertson is facing more time in prison than he would have received had he taken a deal after a jury convicted him Friday of aggravated murder, aggravated robbery, felonious assault, and other charges.
Judge Mark Serrott will sentence Robertson on Feb. 15. He faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison with his earliest opportunity for parole after 26 years. Serrott will decide when Robertson gets the opportunity for parole after at least 26 years.
The charges stem from the fatal shooting of 21-year-old Christopher Roberts Jr. during an exchange of gunfire on July 7, 2022, at the Cross Key apartment complex on the Southeast Side in Truro Township.