COLUMBUS (WCMH) –Jury trials have started for more Short North Posse members at the Federal Courthouse in Columbus.
Twenty members of the notoriously violent gang were indicted in July of 2014. Christopher A. Harris, Robert B. Ledbetter, Rashad Liston, Clifford L. Robinson, and Deounte Ussury will be the first to face a jury.
Some other members of the gang took plea deals while at least five more face federal jury trials this summer.
Contrary to its name, the Short North Posse operated primarily out of the Weinland Park neighborhood. The area, sandwiched between the Short North and Ohio State, is experiencing a revival.
Evans Auto Repair owner David Evans says, “I started working with my dad, now I work with my son and my grandson.”
The family business owner has spent decades under the hood helping others, “They’ve been to other shops, couldn’t figure out the problem. They bring it here and we work on it for a while and get it figured out.”
He still fixes cars in the Weinland Park Neighborhood. His shop celebrates its 50th anniversary next month. In that time, he’s witnessed a lot of change outside his window.
Evans explains, “Sugar Shack was right across the street so we worked on Bob Seger’s van, got to listen to the drifters, and Jerry Lee Lewis, and everybody that played over there.”
Big names passed through these streets. This was the neighborhood’s heyday before declining into darker times.
Evans adds, “The neighborhood has had hard times in the past.” Many families moved out, businesses packed up, but Evans remained.
He says, “Everybody that I can think of has all went out of business over the years. We’re a survivor.”
This survivor never stopped believing. Evans recalls, “I always had optimism that it was going to get better. The police have done a wonderful job with the crime in the neighborhood.”
Cutting down the crime has helped spur new investment.
Evans says, “It’s now become a family neighborhood once again.” A cleaned up Weinland Park is ready for another heyday. Evans adds, “A turn of the page. To quote Bob Seger turn the page.”
Jury trials involving Short North Posse members are expected to last a few months. Increased security will remain at the courthouse for the duration of these trials.What others are clicking on: