Local Appeals Court Rejects Guilty Plea By Suspect In 2014 Slaying

The Franklin County Court of Appeals has ruled a guilty plea made by a Columbus man in a 2014 murder case is invalid because the presiding judge  failed to inform him of his Constitutional right to confront witnesses. The ruling vacates the plea and life prison sentence for 35-year-old Raymond Johnson that was handed down last year. Johnson was convicted of shooting and killing  26-year-old Carlton Gibbs-Green at a Mithoff Street home. Johnson has the option of making a different plea bargain or taking the case to trial.