The man who shot and killed Cleveland Heights restaurant owner Jim Brennan last summer pleaded guilty Friday and gave a statement to authorities implicating the others involved.

His brother, who worked as a dishwasher for Brennan, also pleaded guilty in the slaying.

Darien Jones, 21, and Brandon Jones, 23, admitted to charges in separate, 14-count indictments that accused them of aggravated murder, kidnapping, aggravated burglary and aggravated robbery before Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Maureen Clancy.

Prosecutors recommended that Darien receive a sentence of life in prison, with the first chance of parole in 37 years. They recommended that Brandon receive life in prison, with the first chance of parole in 40 years.

Clancy said she wouldn’t promise those sentences, but will consider them: “I am not bound to that sentence. That’s between you and (prosecutors).”

The brothers were the first of four men charged in the case to be convicted in the death of Brennan, 61, the owner of Brennan’s Colony Restaurant and Tavern. Brennan’s death stunned a community, whose residents admired his warm, upbeat personality.

Besides the Joneses, Devonne Turner, 27, also is charged in the slaying and faces identical charges. Turner’s brother, Paul, 24, is accused of obstructing justice, tampering with evidence and illegally possessing a firearm.

The Turners have denied the charges.

The Joneses have been waffling for weeks over whether to plead or take the case to trial. A trial in the case was to begin March 25, but it is unclear whether that date will stand for the Turners.

If you show kindness to them in any way at all, this is how you will be repaid.

You cannot mess with the laws of the universe and escape unscathed.

Charity is for your own people, it turns into a curse when given to anyone else.

19 Action News:

Chris Armington owns the popular Tavern Company just across the street from Brennan’s Colony on Lee Road in Cleveland Heights. He worked for Jim Brennan for 13 years before opening his own business.

“I wouldn’t be here without him,” said Armington.

That’s why Armington was devastated when he heard the beloved Brennan had been murdered execution style in a robbery on Monday.

Armington told 19 Action News reporter Dawn Kendrick that the suspects should “get a job” and end the violence.

Turns out one of the four suspects now charged with aggravated murder and robbery had a job-at The Colony! Brennan had recently hired 23-year-old Brandon Jones to work in the kitchen.

Edward Babcox of Cleveland Heights worked with Jones the day before the murder.

“He gave Brandon a few chances. There were times that he wasn’t a very good worker and Jim helped him out a couple of times. That’s the kind of guy JB was,” said Babcox.

“It makes me sick that this guy worked there,” said Armington.

Police won’t say if Jones was in the restaurant Monday when Brennan was murdered.

Cleveland Heights Police Chief Jeff Robertson told 19 Action News, “You can’t get infuriated. You hurt and are sad just like all the people who knew Jim Brennan. Our job is to find out what happened and that’s what we’re doing.”

Also charged was Brandon’s brother, 21-year-old Darien Jones, and brothers 26-year-old Devon Turner and Paul Turner, all of Cleveland. The Turners have extensive rap sheets including aggravated robbery, theft, kidnapping, and animal cruelty.

The law says innocent until proven guilty, but if these guys are responsible for the cold blooded murder of such a pillar of this community, Babcox says, “I hope he understands what he has done to everybody. The colony family. This community.”

Police arrested the five people on Wednesday, but only four were charged. Detectives are still searching for additional suspects.

Brennan was killed during an attempted robbery on Monday, June 30.