CLEVELAND — Joshua Ward, the Euclid man who was arrested after telling police that he killed his ex-girlfriend in Cleveland Heights, was sentenced Tuesday to a minimum of 25 years in prison.
Ward was sentenced by Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge William McGinty after pleading guilty earlier this month to involuntary manslaughter, felonious assault, and having weapons under disability for the death of 43-year-old Shievon Seats in 2023.
The involuntary manslaughter and felonious assault charges also carried three-year firearms specifications that added six years to Ward's sentence.
McGinty pointed out that the 39-year-old Ward could serve as many as 30.5 years in prison per the Reagan Tokes Law.
During Tuesday's sentencing hearing, several members of the Seats family were emotional while addressing both Ward and McGinty.
Nateshia Seats, sister of Shievon, cried as she held up several pictures while talking about the impact her sister had on her life. "She always had my back -- and you stole that away from me," Nateshia Seats shouted as she faced Ward.
You can watch Tuesday's entire sentencing hearing below:
According to Cleveland Heights police, on Jan. 16, 2023, Ward called 911 and told the dispatcher that he had shot his girlfriend in the head and that she was dead on the kitchen floor. Upon arriving at the residence in the 3200 block of E. Overlook Road, officers discovered Shievon Seats dead at the scene.
A preliminary investigation at that time revealed that Ward and Seats "may have been in a relationship at some point."
Ward surrendered to officers, who took him into custody. One week later on Jan. 23, 2023, he was indicted on the following charges:
- Aggravated murder
- Murder (2 counts)
- Felonious assault (2 counts)
- Having weapons under disability
The aggravated murder, murder, and felonious assault charges all carried firearm specifications potentially adding 1-3 additional years in prison.
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