LISBON — A trial set to begin today against Justin Givens for weapons and child endangering charges has been canceled since he entered a guilty plea Friday.

Givens, 28, state Route 644, Salineville, pleaded guilty in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court to improper handling firearms in a motor vehicle, a fourth-degree felony, and a misdemeanor endangering children charge.

Judge Megan Bickerton set sentencing for 11:40 a.m. July 10. A charge of obstructing official business was dismissed.

The charges stem from a Dec. 26, 2021 traffic stop when he had a firearm in a vehicle with children present.

Givens, charged with aggravated murder in the March 18, 2022 shooting death of Mary Ann McGuire at her Depot Road home, is scheduled to face sentencing at 1 p.m. today in a separate case before Judge Scott Washam.

Givens had entered a guilty plea to attempted escape and having weapons under disability, both third-degree felonies. The weapons charge stemmed from Givens having a rifle in one of his pickups the day after the murder, even though he’s prohibited from having weapons. The attempted escape charge stemmed from him allegedly faking an injury at the jail in hopes of being transported to a hospital in an attempt to escape custody on March 21, 2022, a plan which was thwarted by the sheriff’s office.

A jury trial in the aggravated murder case remains set for 9 a.m. July 18 before Bickerton, with a final status hearing set for 10 a.m. June 26.

Charges against Givens in that case include unclassified felonies of aggravated murder and murder for allegedly causing McGuire’s death, along with two counts of grand theft when the property is a firearm or dangerous ordnance, both third-degree felonies, two counts of tampering with evidence, both third-degree felonies, aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, endangering children, a first-degree misdemeanor, and two firearm specifications.

Just last week, he was served with two more indictments for first-degree felony charges of possessing deadly weapons for allegedly having a razor and piece of copper fashioned into a weapon in the county jail.

Givens has remained in custody under a $1 million bond since his arrest March 19, 2022