LISBON — David M. Shafer pleaded guilty in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court on Friday to charges connected to killing his father, Delbert Shafer, in 2018.

Shafer, 51, state Route 558, Leetonia, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter, a first-degree felony and lesser charge to the murder charge he was initially facing. Additionally, he pleaded guilty to both having weapons under a disability and tampering with evidence.

Although the prosecutor’s office is declining for now to give additional details regarding the evidence in the case, Shafer took a plea deal less than three weeks from going to trial for the death of his father on Jan. 14, 2018. Judge Megan Bickerton said the new voluntary manslaughter charge accuses Shafer of causing the death of his father due to a sudden fit of rage or passion.

Within days of Delbert Shafer’s death, deputies were informed about concerns raised after the body was transported to a local funeral home. While preparing the body there, it was determined he may have died of suspicious causes. The death was later determined to be a homicide.

Additionally, with a previous conviction for burglary in Berks County, Pa., David Shafer is not permitted to have firearms, yet he reportedly had several guns belonging to his father, which he attempted to hide from deputies while they were investigating Delbert Shafer’s death. On Jan. 23, 2018 a large cache of firearms were found in a hidden storage area when deputies searched the home thoroughly with a search warrant and after David Shafer had told deputies his father had disposed of all his weapons prior to his death.

Assistant County Prosecutor Ryan Weikart said the prosecutor’s office would like to thank the sheriff’s deputies who worked the case, a group that included Sgt. Detectives Jeff Haugh and Steve Walker, the primary investigators on the case. Weikart said prosecutions like this one are made possible through experienced officers like Haugh and Walker and teamwork.

“It was a long investigation and a team effort, and we’re pleased with the results of today,” Weikart said. “We took a look at the evidence and looked at what was going to be the most reasonable resolution.”

Assistant County Prosecutor Alec Beech indicated during the hearing the prosecutor’s office will be seeking a 14-year prison sentence, which includes 10 years for the voluntary manslaughter charge. Additionally, Beech said they will ask for two years each for the weapons while under a disability and tampering with evidence charges.

The initial murder charge carried a sentence of 15 years to life. Although by taking the plea deal Shafer may face a possible five year probation time following a 14 year prison sentence, it would not be the possibility of the indefinite life sentence in prison with visits to the parole board after completing a 15-year sentence that was possible with the initial murder charge.

Sentencing is set for Jan. 8.

djohnson@mojonews.com