Trumbull County Prosecutor Dennis Watkins is voicing his opposition for parole for a man who was convicted of murdering a 24-year-old man in Warren back in 1995.

Forty-nine-year-old Samuel Totts, who was convicted in 1995 of the murder of 24-year-old Derrick Trimble back in September of 1994, is up for parole in June. He's currently serving a sentence of 23 years to life in prison.

Watkins has penned a letter to the Ohio Adult Parole Authority asking that Totts stays behind bars.

Totts was convicted on charges of aggravated murder, aggravated robbery and firearm specifications stemming from an incident in 1994 where Totts and another man joined Trimble and his friends who were playing dice.

Prosecutors say Totts then proceeded to rob Trimble asking him to give him his gold necklace. One witness said Trimble put his hands up and asked Totts not to shoot him.

The witness went on to say Trimble tried to escape, but was shot in the back by Totts and died of his injuries.

Totts has served 27 years in prison so far. In his letter, Watkins says during that time, rehabilitative programs have not seemed to work on him.

"Whether it's completing programs, starting them or following disciplinary rules, Totts fails to provide the necessary ingredients when it comes to sustainability for release on parole," Watkins said.

Watkins went on to note multiple infractions committed by Totts since he penned his last letter in 2019 including use of drugs in prison, as well as telling a corrections officer to "hang thing motherf****ing visit up" when he was approached about not being properly dressed.

"[Totts] is not ready for prime time. And most importantly, any release now with only having served a minimum amount of time for such a brutal premeditated murder would only diminish the seriousness of his violent crimes," Watkins said.