Tiffany Powell, 34, of Akron, was sentenced to life in prison on Thursday for the murder of James Harris, according to the Summit County Prosecutor's Office.
According to the prosecutor, on Jan. 29 jurors found Powell guilty of aggravated murder and obstructing justice.
“Tiffany Powell has shown no remorse and has refused to take responsibility for her actions. She lured James Harris to his death,” said Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh. “She left behind tremendous pain which will be felt by James Harris’ family for the rest of their lives. James Harris was a man who cared deeply about his family and his community and will be sorely missed.”
Summit County Common Pleas Court Judge Thomas Teodosio also sentenced Powell to 30 months in prison for obstructing justice and ordered the sentences be served consecutively.
The prosecutor said Powell will be eligible for parole after serving 32 and a half years.
Powell and Harris had five children together, the prosecutor reported. On April 26, 2014, while in the middle of a custody battle, Powell and her boyfriend, Paul Reed, lured Harris, then 69, to Powell's home. At the home, Reed attacked Harris, knocked him on the floor, and slammed his head into the ground at least 15 times. Harris died of blunt force trauma.
Reed was found guilty of murder in February of 2015 and is currently serving a life sentence.
