City man held for court
A Washington man taken into custody last month at a Canton Township housing complex along with a man who would be charged in the shooting death of a Washington woman was ordered held for court Wednesday on one of two cases filed against him by a Washington County Drug Task Force detective.
Shawn A. Sessoms, 20, of Fayette Street, was charged earlier this month with delivery and possession of heroin and conspiracy for allegedly delivering a bundle of heroin to a confidential informant in the parking lot of Belvedere Acres in Canton.
Sessoms and Jamaal Greene, 18, of Washington, were taken into custody at Belvedere Acres May 5, the day after 19-year-old Alexis Barnett was shot and killed while walking with friends on Bruce Street. Jasmine Young, 21, also of Washington, was injured in the shooting.
Greene initially was put in Washington County Jail on a probation violation. Sessoms was placed in jail on a warrant on drug charges filed against him by the task force in connection with an incident in Washington.
Greene and Tavian Hooper, 18, also of Washington, were charged earlier this month with Barnett’s death in criminal complaints that were sealed by Judge Michael Lucas. The two are scheduled for a preliminary hearing Friday on charges including criminal homicide and conspiracy.
Task force Detective Nicholas Powell testified Wednesday during a preliminary hearing before District Judge David Mark that Sessoms’ arrest stemmed from an investigation by the task force that began April 12 and ended May 4.
Police said a confidential informant called the cellphone of Dashawn Whitaker to make arrangements to purchase heroin. Whitaker, 21, of Canton, is in jail on a state parole violation. He also faces charges of conspiracy and criminal use of a communications facility filed by the task force.
Powell said it was Sessoms who made the delivery to the informant April 29. He added Sessoms also used the names of Sean Johnson and Dominique Rosser. Powell watched Sessoms leave one of the buildings at the complex and go to the vehicle driven by the informant. Sessoms got in the vehicle for about 30 seconds, got back out and re-entered the building. The bundle containing 10 stamp bags was recovered from the informant, Powell said.
Sessoms remains in jail on $75,000 bond. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Wednesday before District Judge Robert Redlinger on the other charges.