STARKVILLE — Eric Gregory pleaded guilty Monday in Oktibbeha County Circuit Court to a charge of accessory after the fact involving a 2008 fatal accident that killed two people and seriously injured another.
Gregory will be sentenced by the end of the week, when the October term of circuit court ends.
Gregory assisted Ryan Crick, a former officer with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, in leaving the scene of an accident on Oktoc Road that killed Matthew Gaskin, 23, of Aberdeen, and Jessica Burks, 27, of Starkville. Heather Kay McMillian, then 26, was injured in the wreck.
Prosecutors say Crick was driving a Jeep that belonged to Gregory and was intoxicated at the time of the two-vehicle accident. Crick called Gregory to pick him up, and when he arrived at the scene the accident had already occurred. Gregory found Crick hiding behind a tree and drove him to his home in Louisville before Crick turned himself in to police six hours later.
Crick pleaded guilty to three counts of aggravated DUI in 2009 and was sentenced to 60 years in prison.
In other circuit court news, two of the six men accused of beating and robbing a jogger at the Starkville Sportsplex in November 2008 entered guilty pleas last week.
Malcolm Reidout, of 1968, Glenn Lane, was charged with armed robbery in the case. However, in a separate case, Reidout, along with two other males, was involved in a home invasion in May that sent three men to the hospital. Reidout pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and had one armed robbery charge dropped. He will serve a 20-year prison sentence and 15-year sentence, both of which will run consecutively.
One of Reidout’s accomplices in the sportsplex attack, Joshua Norman, of 509 Pueblo Drive, pleaded guilty to armed robbery and was sentenced to eight years in the Mississippi Department of Corrections with five years of post-release supervision. Norman had additional charges of burglary and larceny of a dwelling dropped.
Other suspects in the case, John Robert Bell, of 1426 Louisville Street, and Michael Brown Jr., of 662 West Garrard Road, are also scheduled to stand trial this term. Bell’s case was continued to January, while Brown’s case hasn’t been heard yet.
The aggravated assault and armed robbery trial of Roderick “Bam Bam” Franklin, of 200 Catherine St., was continued to the January term. Franklin is one of two men charged with robbing and shooting a 30-year-old Starkville man outside his North Montgomery home on Oct. 30, 2009. The victim was shot in the head, shoulder and neck and other areas of the upper body with a .380-caliber handgun but managed to knock on neighbors’ doors for help.
Franklin’s half-brother, Kenyon “Smoke” Cannon was also charged in the case. He was sentenced a year ago to 15 years in the MDOC.
Cannon and Franklin were discovered months after the October 2009 shooting in Louisiana. Cannon was captured by U.S. Marshals and the New Orleans Police Department March 8, while the same two agencies teamed up to capture Franklin on March 16.
Henry Lee Neal, who faces two counts of armed robbery, had his trial continued to the January term. The fondling and sexual battery trial of David Parrish also was continued to the January term.
Judge Lee Howard presiding:
Joshua Luke Hayden, of 256 Crigker Road, pleaded guilty to burglary/larceny of a dwelling. He was sentenced to two years in the Mississippi Department of Corrections and five years probation. Hayden must attend drug and alcohol rehabilitation.
Sanitra Bush, of 2026 Highway 25 South, pleaded guilty to robbery. Bush was sentenced to five years probation and must pay a $1,000 fine. Bush had a 15-year prison sentence suspended.
Robert Quinn, of 1343 Beasley Road in Pheba, pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine. Quinn will serve 18 years in the MDOC and five years post-release supervision. Quinn must also pay a $5,000 fine.
Brian Boyd, of 2207 Willie Road, pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine. Boyd was sentenced to 19 years in the MDOC and five years post-release supervision. Boyd must pay a $5,000 fine.
n Gerald Thompson, of 377 Virgin Mary Road in Camden, pleaded guilty to six counts of fraudulent use of an ID. Thompson was sentenced to five years probation and must pay $946.41 in restitution and $1,000 in fines.
Kiarra Jackson, of 315 Mary Lee, Apt. 304-B, pleaded guilty to identity theft. Jackson was sentenced to three years probation and must pay $103.33 in restitution and a $500 fine.
Devon Chandler, of 110 Brane Avenue in West Point, pleaded guilty to burglary. He was sentenced to three years in the Mississippi Department of Corrections but was given credit for time served and was released. With the plea, the state dropped two armed robbery charges.
Judge Jim Kitchens presiding:
Gregory Edward Buck, of 200 Catherine Street Apt. 9A pleaded guilty to the sale and transfer of marijuana. Buck was sentenced to eight years in the Mississippi Department of Corrections and must pay a $500 fine.
Judge Lee Coleman presiding:
Lavontraon J. Smith, of 3539 New Light Road, pleaded guilty to shooting into a dwelling and was sentenced to five years in the MDOC and five years of post-release supervision.
Roosevelt Cunningham, of 413 Moore Avenue in West Point, had his robbery charge dropped.
James Figgures, of 2325 Old Crawford Road, pleaded guilty to aggravated assault. Figgures was sentenced to 12 years in the MDOC and five years post-release supervision. Figgures must pay a $1,500 fine.
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