A Hopkinsville man indicted by a grand jury last week for murder in connection to the fatal shooting of Joey Hayes appeared in Trigg Circuit Court for his arraignment Wednesday afternoon.
James Gentry and his defense attorney, Michael Thompson, appeared before Judge C.A. “Woody” Woodall and entered a not guilty plea.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Carrie Ovey Wiggins informed the News Edge last week that Gentry was indicted on charges of murder, first-degree robbery, and possession of a handgun by a convicted felon.
During a preliminary hearing in Trigg District Court in December, Kentucky State Police Detective Cory Hamby testified that Gentry admitted he was present when Hayes was shot multiple times on November 27, 2018, and that he also transported him to the location where he was killed.
Authorities had been looking for Hayes after a missing person’s report was filed with the Christian County Sheriff’s Office on November 28, 2018, which stated Gentry was the last person to see Hayes on the Princeton Road around 2:25 that morning when he was following him to a job site. Police reported Hayes body was found around noon on November 28 in a hay barn on a farm located at 412 Buffalo Road in Trigg County. State Police stated that Gentry had lived on the farm in the past and it was owned by a family member.
Gentry remains lodged in the Christian County Jail under a $1 million bond.
