February 19, 2003 – The State of Ohio placed a man on death row Feb. 18 for the murder of an Ohio State student.

Judge Patrick M. McGrath sentenced James T. Conway to death for the Jan. 19, 2002 slaying of Jason A. Gervais, which occurred outside of Dockside Dolls strip club at 2210 E. Dublin-Granville Rd.

“It’s a completely unnecessary tragedy, and that’s what bothers us the most,” said Dale Gervais, Jason’s father.

Eight armed officers ushered Conway into the courtroom, which was filled to capacity with family members and friends.

On Feb. 6, a jury recommended the death sentence in this case, but the final sentencing was delivered by McGrath after a thorough review of the facts.

“The witnesses testified that you walked toward the victim deliberately and fired and fired and fired and fired and fired until the gun was empty,” McGrath said. “The only appropriate sentence that we have is death.”

The jury was intimidated and swayed, Conway said.

“I think they based their decision on the fact that I look like a dangerous person, not on evidence,” he said.

Conway referred to the “almost military presence” of the police officers as the reason the jury recommended death.

The prosecution said the presence of Gervais’ family and the armed guards did not outweigh Conway’s murder conviction.

The court found the jury was not swayed inappropriately and the fact that Gervais was an innocent bystander far outweighed Conway’s lack of prior record and his young age of 23.

The court called Conway’s actions “purposeful” and worthy of the death penalty, scheduled to be carried out on Jan. 19, 2004.

“This world is still filled with overwhelming positive, good, strong, warm people; it’s just unfortunate that a small, small percentage can do such terrible damage” Dale Gervais said.

Cindy Gervais, Jason’s mother, spoke as well.

“There’s not any words that we can even say for our son’s loss, but it’s even a tragedy for the Conways. People shouldn’t have to bury their children,” she said. “We’re going to go on because that is what Jason would have wanted.”

Conway was also sentenced to 14 years in jail for one count of attempted aggravated murder for the shooting of Mandel Williams. The shootings of Williams and Gervais occurred in the same incident.

On the night of Jan. 19, 2002, an argument escalated into a fist fight outside of Dockside Dolls. Amid the bustle, Jeffrey Conway, James Conway’s brother, sustained a substantial cut to his abdomen.

James Conway then pulled a gun and fired at whom he believed was responsible for injuring his brother.

Williams, the original target, pulled Gervais in front of himself to use as a shield, Conway’s defense said. Gervais was taken to Riverside Methodist Hospital and was pronounced dead upon arrival.

Williams was treated and released.

Gervais was a 21-year-old senior in finance at OSU. He was in the Honors Cohort Program in the Fisher College of Business and on track to graduate summa cum laude.

“We just want to express our thanks to everyone who’s been there for us. Without them I don’t know what we would have done.” Cindy Gervais said.