A New Franklin man pleaded guilty Friday to a lesser charge of involuntary manslaughter for an assault in the parking lot of a Norton nightclub that left a Norton man dead.
Robert P. Lantz Jr., 37, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, a first-degree felony. He was originally charged with murder. Under a plea agreement, prosecutors also dropped a felonious assault charge.
Lantz, who was scheduled to go on trial Monday in Summit County Common Pleas Court, will be sentenced at 1 p.m. Oct. 4 by Judge Scot Stevenson. He faces three to 11 years in prison.
Stevenson allowed Lantz to remain free on a $500,000, 10 percent bond. He is restricted to his home on a GPS monitor.
Stevenson ordered a pre-sentence investigation of Lantz and a victim impact statement to be completed before the sentencing.
Lantz is represented by Cleveland attorneys Stuart Lippe and Mary Jo Hanson.
Norton police say Lantz and Daniel Carraway, 63, of Norton, had an argument on the evening of Nov. 19 at Desiree’s, 4951 Wooster Road W.
Lantz was asked to leave but later returned and spoke with Carraway.
Carraway was assaulted after the two left out of the back of the bar.
Police found him lying unresponsive on the ground next to his vehicle about 10:15 p.m. He was taken to Summa Akron City Hospital where he later died.
Desiree’s was last in the news in March 2011, when five dancers were charged with prostitution or unlawful sexual activity after an undercover investigation.
Seven dancers were arrested on similar charges, and a patron was charged with trafficking marijuana when the nightclub was raided in 2008.
Stephanie Warsmith can be reached at 330-996-3705 or swarsmith@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow on Twitter: @swarsmithabj and on Facebook: www.facebook.com/swarsmith.