CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Twenty-two defendants were convicted in homicide cases during the months of July, August, and September, 2012:
July 5, 2012
Before the Honorable Richard D. Boner, Superior Court Judge:
Treshina Monique Everett, 27, pled guilty to 1) robbery with a dangerous weapon, and 2) conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon in connection with the 2009 killing of Kelvin Bell, 34. Everett was sentenced to 109-150 months in prison.
Nikiala Charmaine Merritt, 25, pled guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon in connection with the 2009 killing of Kelvin Bell, 34. Merritt was sentenced to 20-33 months in prison.
Justin Morton, 21, pled guilty to intimidating a witness in connection with a 2011 murder trial. Morton was sentenced to 4-5 months in prison. That sentence was suspended and Morton was placed on unsupervised probation for 12 months.
Montana Nicolay, 20, pled guilty to 1) misdemeanor death by vehicle, 2) misdemeanor hit and run, and 3)reckless driving in the 2011 death of his passenger, Tina Watson, 42. Nicolay was sentenced to 105 days in the county jail; that sentence was suspended and he was placed on supervised probation for 18 months.
Gregory Parker, 53, pled guilty to second-degree murder for the 2011 murder of Ebony Taylor, 25. Parker was sentenced to 258-319 months in prison.
Benjamin Lee Watkins, 28, pled guilty to 1) robbery with a dangerous weapon, and 2) conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon in connection with the 2009 killing of Kelvin Bell, 34. Watkins was sentenced to 108-148 months in prison.
July 12, 2012
Tahashi Matthews, 35, was tried for 1) first-degree murder, 2) two counts of attempted robbery with a dangerous weapon, and 3) possession of a firearm by a convicted felon for the 2009 murder of Jonathan Nelson, 18, and the attempted robbery of Jonathan Nelson and another person. The jury returned verdicts of guilty of first-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The Honorable Eric L. Levinson, Superior Court Judge, sentenced Matthews to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
July 20, 2012
Marty Gaston, 40, was tried for first-degree murder for the 2008 killing of Larry Gaither, 20. The jury returned a verdict of guilty of second-degree murder. The Honorable Richard D. Boner, Superior Court Judge, sentenced Gaston to 240-297 months in prison.
August 2, 2012
Shanika Franklin, 24, pled guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon for her role in the 2011 death of Isaac Rodriguez, 21. The Honorable Richard D. Boner, Superior Court Judge, sentenced Franklin to 24-38 months in prison.
August 14, 2012
Leah Anne Walton, 23, was tried for 1) involuntary manslaughter, 2) reckless driving, 3) misdemeanor possession of marijuana, 4) possession of drug paraphernalia, and 5) no vehicle liability insurance as a result of the 2010 automobile wreck that caused the death of Susan Karabulut, 33. Walton was also tried for assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury upon Lisa McIe, 47, based on the same incident. The jury returned verdicts of guilty on all charges. The Honorable Eric L. Levinson, Superior Court Judge, sentenced Walton to 31-47 months in prison. Upon her release from prison, Walton will then serve
six years of supervised probation. As conditions of probation, Walton must serve another four months in prison, and undergo mental health and substance abuse evaluations. Judge Levinson also suspended Walton’s driver’s license for five years, ordered her to perform 125 hours of community service, and pay approximately $30,000 in restitution to her victims.
August 23, 2012
Yaair Uresti, 19, pled guilty to 1) second-degree murder, 2) attempted robbery with a dangerous weapon, and 3) solicitation of gang activity in connection with the 2010 murder of Alenjandro Leon-Martinez, 34, and the attempted robbery of another person. The Honorable Linwood O. Foust, Superior Court Judge, sentenced Uresti to 284-360 months in prison.
August 28, 2012
Carlene Atkinson, 37, pled guilty to three counts of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the 2009 vehicle crash that killed Cynthia Furr, 45, her daughter McAllister Price, 2, and Hunter Holt, 13. The Honorable H. William Constangy, Superior Court Judge, sentenced Atkinson to 32-40 months in prison.
August 30, 2012
Before the Honorable F. Lane Williamson, Superior Court Judge:
Carolyn Nicole Lilly, 19, pled guilty to obstruction of justice in connection with the 2011 death of Craig Leverette, 20. Lilly was sentenced to 6-17 months in prison; the sentence was suspended pending her successful completion of 36 months probation.
Tyler Lowe, 21, pled guilty to involuntary manslaughter as a result of the 2012 automobile wreck that caused the death of Alan Shuart, 68. Lowe was sentenced to 16-29 months in prison; that sentence was suspended and he was placed on 36 months of supervised probation. As one of his conditions of probation, Lowe was ordered to serve 90 days in the county jail.
Katie Robinson, 32, pled guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the 2011 death of Antoinette Baker, 30. Robinson was sentenced to 13-25 months in prison; that sentence was suspended and she was placed on supervised probation. As one of her conditions of probation, Robinson was ordered to serve 45 days in the county jail.
Alquez Lee Thompson, 18, pled guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the 2011 death of Craig Leverette, 20. Thompson was sentenced to 10-21 months in prison.
Before the Honorable H. William Constangy, Superior Court Judge:
Wendell Lemaitre, 35, pled guilty to two counts of second degree-murder for the 2010 murders of Keith Cox, 42, and Clayton King, 48. Lemaitre was sentenced to 420-522 months in prison.
September 17, 2012
Before the Honorable Eric L. Levinson, Superior Court Judge:
Joel Munos, 19, pled guilty to 1) first-degree murder, 2) attempted robbery with a dangerous weapon, and 3) solicitation of gang activity in connection with the 2010 murder of Alenjandro Leon-Martinez, 34, and the attempted robbery of another person. Munos was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole.
Recsmey Pich, 19, pled guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon
committed during his flight from the scene of the 2010 murder of Alenjandro Leon-Martinez, 34. Pich was sentenced to 25-39 months in prison.
September 20, 2012
Jackson Dieu, 18, pled guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon
committed during his flight from the scene of the 2010 murder of Alenjandro Leon-Martinez, 34. The Honorable Eric L. Levinson, Superior Court Judge, sentenced Dieu to 25-39 months in prison.
September 21, 2012
Joshua Chaney, 23, pled guilty to 1) second-degree murder and 2) robbery with a dangerous weapon for his role in the 2007 murder of Anita Rychlik, 45. Chaney will be sentenced at a later date.
September 25, 2012
Willie Lenon, 22, pled guilty to 1) second-degree murder and 2) robbery with a dangerous weapon in connection with the 2010 murder of Derek Roman, 26. The Honorable Linwood O. Foust, Superior Court Judge, sentenced Lenon to 204-264 months in prison.
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