Man sentenced in Grandview Heights deadly assault after plea agreement
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A man who pleaded guilty to reckless homicide in the fatal beating of a man in Grandview Heights received his sentence Tuesday.
According to court records, Jacob Laurence, who pleaded guilty to reckless homicide in April, will serve five years in prison after a joint recommendation between counsel.
As part of the plea arrangement agreed to on April 28, two counts of tampering with evidence were dropped in connection to the fatal assault of Stephen Albright, who was found unresponsive near the intersection of West 5th Avenue and Dublin Road in the Marble Cliff area.
Albright, 57, died from “severe” head injuries” on Nov. 17, 2023, four days after Laurence was arrested for the assault.
Prosecuting attorneys said in court Tuesday that Albright's death was due to the "senseless acts by the defendant", while defense counsel stated it was simply a horrible accident and not intentional.
An investigation led the police to Laurence after receiving a tip and he was one of two people named of interest after surveillance video images from the area of Albright’s death were released.
Laurence was tracked by a SWAT unit to the 1300 block of Dublin Road after a home search warrant in the 100 block of Columbian Avenue was issued. He was charged in Nov. 2023 with parole violations related to a burglary investigation, but in March 2024 was officially indicted in Albright’s death.
Police also placed a woman in custody who they believed was connected with Laurence, however an identification was never made public after questioning and no charges were filed.
Albright’s brother, James, said the night of the incident, Stephen had dropped his daughter off at a class and decided to go for a run.
Several family members attended the sentencing hearing Tuesday in support of Albright, including his wife, brother, and father, who all issued statements. Judge Julie Lynch said that in 23 years on the bench she has never received so many letters of support for a victim.
Laurence, who expressed remorse in the courtroom, also previously pleaded guilty to one count of obstruction of justice for a jail escape in an unrelated case. That sentence includes one year at the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.