10-25-2011, 02:53 PM
toledo blade
Cameo Pettaway pleaded not guilty in Lucas County Common Pleas Court Tuesday to capital murder charges for the asphyxiation deaths of a couple in Springfield Township
Mr. Pettaway, 22, of 133 Essex Drive, is charged with two counts of aggravated murder, one count of aggravated burglary, and two counts of kidnapping. He faces the death penalty if convicted.
At Mr. Pettaway's initial appearance on Thursday, Judge James Bates appointed attorneys Merle Dech and Mark Geudtner. Mr. Dech asked that the arraignment be continued for a few days.
Mr. Pettaway was arrested Oct. 10 for his alleged role in the Jan. 31 slayings of Lisa Straub and Johnny Clarke. The pair were found bound with duct tape, with plastic bags over their heads, in Miss Straub's parents' Longacre Lane home.
Judge Bates set a Dec. 6 pretrial date and continued the $3 million bond set last week. He issued a gag order in the case preventing attorneys from talking to the media.
Family members of Miss Straub and Clarke were present in the courtroom as were members of Mr. Pettaway's family. Mr. Pettaway told them that he loved him as he was led out the door by court security.
Also charged in the murders is Samuel Todd Williams, 24, of 1626 Kelsey Ave., who also faces capital murder charges. A Jan. 18 trial date was set in that case before Judge Dean Mandros.