Two men and a juvenile entered into plea agreements with the commonwealth in connection to a robbery and murder on Bethel Street in January 2019.
According to court records, James Yates entered guilty pleas to complicity to first-degree burglary, complicity to first-degree robbery and unlawful transaction with a minor. The plea deal comes with a recommended sentence of 10-years and he must serve 85 percent of the sentence before he is eligible for parole.
Lane Carter also entered a guilty plea to facilitation to first-degree burglary and facilitation to first-degree robbery with a recommended sentence of 10 years. He must also serve 85 percent of the sentence before becoming eligible for parole.
In addition, the juvenile in the case entered a guilty plea to first-degree robbery and second-degree assault. His plea agreement comes with a recommendation of 15-years in prison and serving 85 percent of the sentence before he is eligible for parole.
Court records also indicate Shakkory Willis, who is charged with murder in the shooting death of 20-year old Corvyan Thomas and other offenses, also appeared in Christian Circuit Court Monday morning. Judge John Atkins set a pretrial conference for March 11.
Hopkinsville Police reported the three men and juvenile kicked in the door to a home located at 1923 Short Bethel Street on January 24, 2019 with the intent to rob 19-year old Dylan Stewart and Thomas of drugs and money. During a preliminary hearing in district court in February of last year, police said Willis shot Stewart in the leg and shot Thomas three times with a handgun, resulting in his death.
Last year, two other juveniles in the case, Tia Ochs and Madison Wilson, entered into a plea agreement with the commonwealth and pled guilty to facilitation to robbery with recommended sentences of five-years.
