Murder trial delayed by possible plea deal

DADE CITY -- The trial was delayed Monday for an 18-year-old Dade City man -- one of three charged in a 1999 carjacking and murder -- after a prosecutor said a plea agreement might be possible.

Jesse Ray Allen Jr., charged with first-degree murder and carjacking in the beating death of 76-year-old Daniel Max Boyko -- saw his case rescheduled to Jan. 28.

Allen, Lionell Kendall Mitchell, 19, and Damani Emmanuel, 20, were arrested shortly after the Aug. 9, 1999 attack. Authorities said the men forced the older man into his car, drove him to a rural area outside Lacoochee where they beat, choked and stomped him to death, then drove around in his car and showed the body to friends.

Mitchell was convicted in September of manslaughter and assault and sentenced to 15 years in prison. During his trial, Mitchell admitted he was present during the attack but blamed the other two for killing Boyko.

Mitchell is now listed as a witness against Allen.

Prosecutor Linda Babb told Circuit Judge Maynard Swanson on Monday a plea deal is being considered.

"We are in the midst of plea negotiations," Babb said. "I believe this will be able to be worked out."

Outside the courtroom, she said details are being reviewed at the State Attorney's headquarters in Clearwater and declined to detail what sentence agreement might be reached.

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