LISBON — A plea hearing is now scheduled at 1:30 p.m. June 1 in the aggravated murder case against Daniel C. Whitley for the May 2025 shooting death of James Powell.

During a status hearing Friday, Columbiana County Common Pleas Court Judge Megan Bickerton said attorneys for both sides indicated a resolution has been reached. A jury trial trial set for June 2 has been canceled.

Whitley, 34, Wilbert Street, East Liverpool, appeared in the custody of a Columbiana County deputy sheriff and was accompanied by his defense attorney, Thomas Will. County Assistant Prosecutor Steve Yacovone represented the state.

Whitley is charged with aggravated murder, murder, two firearm specifications and tampering with evidence and remains jailed under a $1 million cash or surety bond.

Whitley was taken into custody the night of the shooting on May 15, 2025 in East Liverpool after being found hiding under the porch of a residence.

The victim, Powell, was 58 years old at the time of his death, found with one gunshot wound to the chest after police were called at 6:25 p.m. to a shooting at the Woodland Hills apartments at Eutaw and Montrose streets.

The suspect had allegedly fled in a vehicle and as officers were trying to locate the suspect, they received a tip that he was behind a house on Avondale Street. He was located hiding under the porch and taken into custody without incident at 9:48 p.m. that night.

During a preliminary hearing in county Municipal Court, where the case was originally filed, testimony from two East Liverpool police officers detailed Whitley’s alleged toxic relationship with the victim, about video evidence of him allegedly saying the victim’s girlfriend, who had children with Whitley, was going to watch the victim die and about gun and bullet evidence.

The charges of aggravated murder and murder are both unclassified felonies, with the aggravated murder carrying a possible maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. Each of the firearm specifications carry mandatory three-year prison terms. The tampering with evidence charge is a third-degree felony which carries a possible sentence of up to 36 months in prison.

mgreier@mojonews.com