ZANESVILLE, Ohio (WCMH) – Six co-defendants who pleaded guilty in connection with an attempted murder of a Ohio man could serve as many as a combined 83 years in prison.
According to the Muskingum County prosecutor, sentences were handed out this week to five of six remaining co-defendants for the shooting of a 21-year-old man who was misidentified as a local drug dealer.
The prosecution’s office said that on Dec. 9, 2024, seven people were responsible for the man’s shooting at a suspected drug house on Swingle Street in east Zanesville. They believed the man had raped an acquaintance of Lovely Worden, who police said organized the group.
Worden — along with John Hoffer, Kayla Hargraves, Jamie Jarrett, Adam Johnson-Larimer, Christopher Johnson-Emmons and Jackson Clapper — devised a plan to kill the man. Worden reportedly obtained a shotgun from Jarrett and Clapper, used Jarret’s vehicle and brought Hoffer, Hargraves, and Johnson-Larimer to the drug house.
Video surveillance showed the victim walking to a nearby gas station when Jarret’s vehicle drove by. It stopped at the end of an alley before two gunshots were heard. The victim suffered several injuries and was taken to Genesis Medical Center before being transferred to a different trauma center for treatment.
The Muskingum County Sheriff’s Office located and identified Hargraves as the driver and Johnson-Larimer as a passenger. A box of ammunition was found on the floor of the back seat, and the two were arrested.
Zanesville police later uncovered video evidence of the group meeting together with Hoffer and Worden leaving Hargraves’ vehicle and catching a ride with Johnson-Emmons before leaving the scene.
On Monday, the following sentences were handed down by a Muskingum County judge:
- Lovely Warden: 21½-25 years, pleaded guilty to attempted aggravated burglary, conspiracy to commit murder and felonious assault with a drive-by shooting specification, to be served consecutively with a separate sentencing on a drug case.
- Kayla Hargraves: 15-19 years, pleaded guilty to attempted aggravated burglary and felonious assault with a drive by shooting specification and discharging of a firearm on or near a prohibited premises.
- Jamie Jarrett: 5 years, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder.
- Adam Johnson: 3 years, pleaded guilty to attempted burglary and felonious assault.
- Christopher Johnson: 3 years community control, plus 50 hours of community service, pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice and tampering with evidence.
Earlier this month, Hoffer received a 27-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to felonious assault, discharging a firearm on or near a prohibited premises and having weapons under disability. Jackson Clapper will be sentenced at a later date.
