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Ashtabula homicide suspect James Brooks sentenced to 21 years in prison for fed firearm, drug crimes

Posted at 5:08 PM, Aug 15, 2016
and last updated 2016-08-15 17:10:12-04

A man who allegedly connected to the death of an 18-year-old woman whose remains were discovered in a fire pit has been sentenced to more than 21 years in prison for federal drug and firearm crimes.

James Brooks, 41, of Roaming Shores, Ohio was previously found guilty in U.S. District Court on six counts including distribution of heroin and crack cocaine, possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime and being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, according to court documents.

Brooks still has charges pending in state court related to a case involving Alesha Bell, an 18-year-old Warren woman whose remains were discovered in a fire pitoutside of Brooks' home in 2015.

Bell was last seen with Brooks and her mother reported her missing on July 23 2015. When police searched Brooks' home, they found no evidence of foul play, before finding Bell's remains outside of his home.