Woman enters guilty plea in homicide case

POMEROY, Ohio – One of the defendants in a murder case has entered a guilty plea.

Michele Burton, 53, of Belpre, appeared with attorney Britt T. Wiseman before Judge Linda Warner in the Meigs County Court of Common Pleas on April 15. Burton entered guilty pleas to Tampering with Evidence and Obstructing Justice related to the homicide of Tina M. Johnson on Aug. 7, 2023.

Judge Warner then found Burton guilty with sentencing scheduled for Oct. 7, 2024 at 1:30 p.m.

Michele Burton was charged for her involvement with the homicide along with her husband, Charles S. Burton, 48. Charles Burton was indicted for two counts of Aggravated Murder, each an unclassified felony, each with two accompanying death penalty specifications; Murder, an unclassified felony; two counts of Aggravated Robbery, each a felony of the first degree; two counts of Kidnapping, each a felony of the first degree; one count of Tampering with Evidence, a felony of the third degree; and two counts of Complicity, each a felony of the third degree. Charles Burton is scheduled for a jury trial in September 2024.

Michelle D. Burton was originally indicted for one count of Complicity to Aggravated Murder, an unclassified felony; one count of Complicity to Murder, an unclassified felony; two counts of Tampering With Evidence, each a felony of the third degree; one count of Complicity, a felony of the third degree; and four counts of Obstructing Justice, each a felony of the third degree.