Man Convicted in Killing of Brennan's Colony Owner Loses Appeal

A man convicted in the 2014 murder of Cleveland Heights restaurant owner lost his appeal Monday, according to The Fox 8 I Team.

Brandon Jones, 24, convicted of being the “mastermind” behind an operation to rob Brennan’s Colony, had his sentence of 40-years to life upheld in appeals court. During the appeal, Jones’ lawyers argued that murdering restaurant owner James Brennan was not part of his plan and that his sentence was not consistent for similar crimes, reported Fox 8. Jones was employed as a dishwasher at Brennan’s Colony at the time of the murder.

Jones and two other men — Darien Jones, 21, and DeVonne Turner, 27 — planned to rob a safe in the restaurant’s basement. Jones informed the men about how to enter the restaurant as well as of the location of the safe. When the men entered the restaurant at around 1 p.m., Brennan confronted them. During the struggle, Darien Jones shot Brennan three times, including once in the head. Brennan died at MetroHealth Health Center later.

Jones and Turner then fled east on Silsby Road. The two received 37-year to life sentences for their part in the robbery-turned-murder.

During the robbery Jones pretended to be a victim, and even stayed to speak with police after they arrived. Jones pled guilty and received a 40-year to life sentence in 2015.

Turner and his brother, 24-year-old Paul Turner, also committed a robbery of a gas station the same day as the shooting.

In another incident, the Turner brothers pushed a woman who complained about the manner in which the duo were walking their dog. The brothers pushed the woman, causing a man to intervene. The brothers beat up the man and stole his wallet.

Paul Turner was sentenced to 11 years in prison for concealing the murder weapon after the Colony as well as the two other crimes. He was not present at the Colony shooting.