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LISBON -- Tariq Larkins changed his mind about pleading guilty to a long list of charges Thursday, charges which include aggravated vehicular assault for injuries he allegedly caused to Kaylin Clark, his passenger on Sept. 16, 2015.
The 24-year-old Larkins, also known as Tig, whose current address is listed as the Lorain Correctional Institution in Grafton, is accused of losing control of his 2004 Chrysler Sebring on U.S. Route 30 in St. Clair Township while driving at a high rate of speed. The vehicle struck an embankment and overturned twice. Larkins reportedly abandoned Clark in the vehicle. She was aided by someone who was passing by.
Additionally, Larkins is charged with driving under suspension, failure to stop after an accident, two counts of trafficking in drugs and two counts of possession of drugs, all in relationship to his alleged actions that night. He reportedly had 12 individual packaged plastic bags of heroin and 32 individually packaged baggies of cocaine on that night.
When Larkins appeared for a status conference Thursday morning with his jury trial scheduled to begin on Monday, he initially planned to plead guilty to the charges, according to his defense attorney, Fred Naragon. However, later in the day Thursday, Larkins still had not signed the plea agreement paperwork and reportedly had changed his mind.
Larkins blamed Naragon, who he said was unable to get him a deal so all of his new prison time would be concurrent with time he is already serving in another case. Judge Scott Washam asked Larkins that if he was unsatisfied with the plea did that mean he still could not work with Naragon for the trial. Naragon had earlier in the hearing asked to be released as Larkins' attorney.
Larkins said he did not know what was happening with his case, adding Naragon has "discussed nothing with me." He added he has nothing to lose after losing his child and having his mom die, and was willing to defend himself if necessary at his trial on Monday.
Washam denied Naragon's request to withdraw from the case and ordered to trial to proceed on Monday.
Likewise at an earlier hearing on Thursday, Washam denied the request of defense attorney Edward Gillison, who asked for a continuance of the Monday trial of his client, JaJuan McKeithen. Gillison said McKeithen is unable to pay him while incarcerated and while others in his family have promised to pay the attorney as soon as their income tax refunds arrive, McKeithen's account currently has no money in it.
"I should not be required to work for free," Gillison said.
Washam said he would not postpone the trial, noting "It's not a matter of not being prepared (for trial), it's a matter of not being paid."
McKeithen's case dates from 2014 and Gillison, who is from Weirton, W.Va., is his third attorney in the case. McKeithen is charged with possession of drugs.
djohnson@mojonews.com