The Hopkinsville man convicted of murdering Joey Hayes in eastern Trigg County in 2018 still has charges pending in Christian County with a resolution possible.
James Gentry Jr. appeared in Christian County Circuit Court Wednesday afternoon before Judge Andrew Self. Gentry is charged with tampering with a prisoner monitoring device — a Class D felony. Gentry’s attorney, Eric Bearden, asked Judge Self for more time as he and the prosecution work to resolve the case.
click to download audioJudge Self scheduled a pretrial conference for February 2.
Gentry is charged with cutting off his ankle monitor on July 27 in Hopkinsville — which was also the final day of his murder trial in Trigg County. Police alerted court officials that the ankle monitor had been found in the 2600 block of Cox Mill Road.
Later that day, a jury returned a guilty verdict for the murder of Hayes. Gentry had been free on a reduced cash bond for five months and was required to wear an ankle monitor.
Gentry was arrested in California in late October by the U.S. Marshal’s Office after he had been on the run since his July murder trial.
Last month, he was sentenced to life without parole in the first 25 years for a count of murder, and 20 years concurrent for a charge of first-degree burglary. Gentry said he planned to appeal his conviction.
