Lorain man pleads guilty to his role in 2021 Oberlin murder, drug, gun and counterfeiting cases

A Lorain man who was one of two people involved in the shooting death of an Elyria man in Oberlin in 2021 has pleaded guilty to lesser charges in that case and felony charges in three other cases he was facing in Lorain County Common Pleas Court. A sentencing agreement between Canaan Sullivan, 25, and the Lorain County Prosecutor's Office is likely to see him sentenced to 18 to 23½ years in prison by Judge James Miraldi at a sentencing hearing next month. Sullivan pleaded guilty June 14 to charges in four separate felony cases. Assistant Prosecutor Matt Kern, who prosecuted Sullivan for his participation in 21-year-old Tray Porter's murder in January 2021, said Sullivan pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, a felony with a three-year firearm specification, as well as two felonious assault charges with firearm specifications and a felony tampering with evidence charge with a specification. The involuntary manslaughter charge carries a sentence of 11 to 16½ years in prison. Two of the firearm specifications, both three years each, will run consecutive to the involuntary manslaughter sentence, consecutive to each other and consecutive to a one-year prison term for tampering with evidence, for a total of 18 to 23½ years. The felonious assault charge merged with the manslaughter charge for sentencing. Two murder charges were dismissed. The plea and sentencing agreement were reached after prosecutors consulted with the victim's mother, Kern said. Sullivan is free on bond awaiting a July 18 sentencing hearing in Miraldi's courtroom. A message seeking comment on the guilty plea was left for Sullivan's attorney, Anthony Baker. With his guilty plea, Sullivan also waived his rights to withdraw his plea, apply for postconviction relief or early release, and also waived some other appeal rights, according to the prosecutor's office. The killing Oberlin police said more than three years ago that officers responded at about 4 p.m. Jan. 31, 2021, to the 200 block of South Park Street in the city for a report of shots fired. Porter was found on the ground with a gunshot wound to his upper thigh, surrounded by a small group of people. Officers performed first aid and Porter was taken first to Mercy Health-Allen Hospital in Oberlin, then to MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland where he died. A witness told police two people had shown up at the house to smoke with Porter. A confrontation took place and a witness said someone shouted for Porter to "get down on the ground." Evidence including a semi-automatic handgun and blood was found in the snow outside. A witness told police a man ran from the residence east into a wooded area. Porter was described in his obituary as a "goofy but yet kindhearted" musician with "an infectious smile and a sweet spirit" who was survived by his daughter, parents, siblings and extended family. The suspected triggerman in Porter's murder is unidentified and still at large. Kern said investigators "pursued information" about that person's identity but have so far been unable to identify them. He asked anyone with information about the shooter's identity to call the Oberlin Police Department at (440) 774-1061. Other cases Sullivan also pleaded guilty June 14 to 12 felonies in a drug and weapons case filed in December 2021. Those charges included trafficking in and possession of a fentanyl-related compound, trafficking in drugs, possession of drugs, having weapons under disability, receiving stolen property, possession of cocaine and possession of criminal tools. According to police and prosecutors, undercover officers bought drugs from Sullivan twice, leading the Lorain Police Department to search Sullivan's E Street residence in October 2021. There, authorities found two guns including a stolen .38-caliber revolver, more than 400 pills and fentanyl powder totaling more than 180 grams, "a little over 4.5 grams" of methamphetamine, other amounts of cocaine and marijuana, and more than $12,000 in cash, Kern said. The guns and cash will be forfeited to the state, Kern said. Finally, in his third and fourth cases, Sullivan pleaded guilty to two felony counterfeiting charges and two misdemeanor theft charges, all filed in 2023 while he was free on bond in the murder case, for passing counterfeit bills. The prosecutor's office asked Miraldi to revoke Sullivan's bond in the murder case following his arrest and indictment on the counterfeiting charges, but Miraldi rejected the request, according to court records. Sullivan also has prior felony weapons convictions in 2021 for which he received two years' probation, according to court records. Contact Dave O'Brien at (440) 329-7129 or dobrien@chroniclet.com.