Friday, January 13, 2012

15 recently convicted in Mecklenburg homicides and fatal crashes

Fifteen people were convicted from October to December in Mecklenburg County cases of homicides and fatal crashes, according to a quarterly report released by the District Attorney’s Office.

October

Jeffrey Jenkins, 30, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in connection with the 2006 shooting death of 33-year-old Charles “Jake” Melton in Matthews. Jenkins was sentenced to up to nearly two years in prison.

Tricia Rawana, 33, pleaded guilty to felony death by vehicle. In 2009, police said Rawana was impaired when she drove the wrong way on East W.T. Harris Boulevard and struck another car head-on. The crash killed the other driver, 43-year-old Kim Mobley. Rawana, who was hospitalized for about a month after the crash, was sentenced to 20-33 months in prison.

November

John Adams, 34, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the shooting death of his mother, 63-year-old Ada Adams. In June 2010, police said an ongoing custody dispute over John Adams' son resulted in the shooting at a home off Beatties Ford Road. The boy called 911 and told dispatchers his father shot his grandmother in the kitchen. Ada Adams, a retired worker at a Lance snack food plant, had been shot in the chest, police said. John Adams was sentenced to about 16-20 years in prison.

Shamon Goins, 21, and Dantonio Hamilton, 20, each pleaded guilty to discharging a gun into an occupied vehicle in connection with the killing of Devon Clement, 20. Clement was shot in front of dozens of people at the Cook-Out restaurant on West Sugar Creek Road in May 2010. Prosecutors said the only gunshot that struck Clement was fired by another suspect, Cherelle Griffin, who pleaded guilty in September to second-degree murder. Goins, who was on probation at the time of the shooting, was sentenced to 25-39 months in prison. Hamilton received the same sentence, but it was suspended pending his successful completion of three years on supervised probation. Hamilton was also ordered to be put on electronic house arrest for 30 days.

Travis Moore, 26, pleaded guilty to driving while impaired in the 2010 crash near Charlotte Motor Speedway that killed Amanda George, 25. Police said George had gone to the Bank of America 500 race with friends but got separated from her group and was trying to find them. She was trying to cross U.S. 29, when she was hit by a truck driven by Moore, police said. He was sentenced to 60 days in jail, but the sentence was suspended pending his successful completion of 18 months of supervised probation.

Jamarr Springs, 29, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, robbery with a dangerous weapon, attempted robbery with a dangerous weapon and second-degree kidnapping. Prosecutors said Springs' girlfriend, Pamela Garmon, was planning to end their relationship in December 2010, and during an argument, Springs grabbed an AK-47 and shot her to death. When Springs fled, he tried to stop a car with two people inside and fired a shot at the car when they drove around him, prosecutors said. He later forced a driver out of a car at Northlake Mall and made the vehicle’s passenger ride with him as he drove to a relative’s house. At his sentencing, Springs said he loved Garmon and didn’t realize he was shooting at her because he was under the influence. He will spend up to about 48 years in prison.

Thomas Davis, 42, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the death of Linda Wise, 54. Davis was taken into custody in Baltimore about three months after Wise was found beaten in her apartment on Effingham Road in August 2010. Neighbors said they had heard screaming from inside the apartment. Davis was sentenced to about 15-19 years in prison.

A jury found Shawn Howard, 29, guilty of murder and discharging a gun into occupied property in the killing of his landlord, Jacob Massachi, 53. Massachi was shot after trying to evict Howard and his girlfriend from a home in the Grier Heights neighborhood in July 2008. The couple hadn’t paid all of their rent, neighbors said, and Massachi had come to the home to remove Howard’s belongings. That’s when Howard shot the married father of two, according to neighbors. A Superior Court judge sentenced Howard to life in prison without the possibility of parole, as well as up to about three additional years in prison for the weapon charge.

December

Tracy Gilliam, 29, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, first-degree burglary and possession of a firearm by a felon in connection with the 2010 killing of his ex-girlfriend LaSheira Hall. Relatives said Hall, the mother of three, was holding a baby when Gilliam shot her. He was later arrested in Detroit. Gilliam was sentenced to up to about 34 years in prison.

Mercedes Smith, 22, pleaded guilty to felony obstruction of justice. Prosecutors said she concealed the whereabouts of Corey Grant, who previously pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the September 2009 killing of Jimmy Sanderlin, 24. Smith was sentenced to six to eight months in prison, but the sentence was suspended pending her successful completion of two years of supervised probation.

Seth Smith, 30, pleaded guilty to two counts of misdemeanor death by vehicle for the deaths of 26-year-old Courtney Puckett and her child. Puckett and her 15-month-old daughter, Alexandria Hinkley, were riding with Smith when he veered off a road and slammed into a tree in October 2009, police said. Puckett and her daughter died at the scene, and Smith was seriously injured. Police said they believed excessive speed had caused the crash. Records showed Smith had a long history of speeding and had been previously charged at least eight times with speeding in North Carolina since he was 18. Smith was sentenced to 200 days in prison.

Oz Thomas, 22, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in the shooting death of Travis Davis, 21. Witnesses told police in May 2009 that they saw several people involved in an argument in front of a home in west Charlotte and then heard gunfire. Davis suffered a gunshot wound and was taken to an area hospital, where he died. Thomas was sentenced to about five to seven years in prison.

Melissa Wooten, 29, pleaded guilty to driving while impaired and misdemeanor possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia in connection with the death of Rosemarie Lyle, 55. Police said Lyle was trying to cross North Tryon Street near the NoDa neighborhood in July 2011 when she was struck by a car driven by Wooten. Lyle died later at Carolinas Medical Center. Police said Wooten initially left the scene of the collision but returned a short time later. Wooten was sentenced to nearly seven months in jail, but the sentence was suspended pending her successful completion of 18 months of supervised probation. She was also ordered to immediately serve 72 hours in jail and pay a $1,000 fine.

Tyler Stasko, 23, was put on trial for three counts of second-degree murder stemming from an April 2009 crash that killed three people, including two children. Stasko, of Matthews, and Carlene Atkinson, 47, of Lake Wylie, were accused of racing at speeds of up to 100 mph on N.C. 49 near Lake Wylie when Stasko's Mitsubishi Eclipse smashed into a Mercedes. Killed in the wreck were 45-year-old Cynthia Furr, her 2-year-old daughter, McAllister Price, and 13-year-old Hunter Holt, a passenger in Stasko’s car. A jury found Stasko guilty of three counts of involuntary manslaughter rather than murder. He was sentenced to at least three years and nine months in prison. Atkinson wasn't involved in the wreck, but she is also charged with three counts of second-degree murder. Her case has not yet gone to trial.

--Meghan Cooke

From top to bottom, left to right: Tricia Rawana, John Adams, Shamon Goins, Dantonio Hamilton, Travis Moore, Jamarr Springs, Thomas Davis, Tracy Gilliam, Mercedes Smith, Seth Smith, Oz Thomas, Melissa Wootsen, and Tyler Stasko.


18 comments:

  1. Are you saying you are anti-gun or anti-killing? Do you want to do away with cars and guns as your story does not indicate anything other than 15 deaths from various reasons.

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  2. 15 people, 14 plea bargains and one show trial, and Andy Murray puts this out as a success? All the plea bargain got the bare minimum, less than 2 years for shooting someone? That is all a life is worth in Mecklenburg? Murray is a joke.

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    1. Glad someone in this town sees what is going on. Congratulations Mecklenburg County, your very own politician DA (George Laughrun's puppet) is able to fool you into believing he has made you safe.

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    2. george laughrun is a liar , idiot, and it is according to who he owes whether you get a fair sentence or harsh.
      He would not have us to sign a contract , said not to worry about the money,
      and worked with the ada to send my son to prison for 2nd degree murder , 12-15 years, never stood up for my son, even though he was suppose to as his lawyer. He was not a lawyer taking care of his client , he wanted my son in prison as much as everyone else did. Everything that came out in the media, was hearsay and lies.
      No investigation needed Laughrun told Whitfield.
      Then I see all this shit going down, of people killing on purpose , which my son never would have done and it would have come out in court in Laughrun would have just taken the time to investigate our case.
      It pisses me off everytime I see someone that did worse that my( son, that was made an example of) and Laughrun worked with the ADa to put my son in prison to the highest max time.
      I dislike Laughrun and will never trust the justice system in charlotte, the big queen city at all.
      I thought justice was trying to find out exactly what happened. No they, (George Laughrun, ADA Marsha Goodenow, ALE Brad putnam and STate hwy patrol, Pickerd.
      They all lied underoath.
      We have four more years to go and have accepted we were screwed and my son was used as an example.
      But you see what is happining now, they do not keep the people on the media for over 6 months, and the real true monsters or troublemakers are still running free.
      What an injustice to all the civil people who do not go out to do any harm; Withheld statements, that could have helped my son.
      But who cares except the ones that know the truth about this case.
      Other lawyers saw the discrepencies.
      I confronted Laughrun, about the withheld statements and the lies.
      He said never contact him again.
      Laughrun is just for show.....He is told what to do by the ADA o DA and does it.
      Laughrun is n idiot.

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    3. example:Melissa Wooten, 29, pleaded guilty to driving while impaired and misdemeanor possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia in connection with the death of Rosemarie Lyle, 55. Police said Lyle was trying to cross North Tryon Street near the NoDa neighborhood in July 2011 when she was struck by a car driven by Wooten. Lyle died later at Carolinas Medical Center. Police said Wooten initially left the scene of the collision but returned a short time later. Wooten was sentenced to nearly seven months in jail, but the sentence was suspended pending her successful completion of 18 months of supervised probation. She was also ordered to immediately serve 72 hours in jail and pay a $1,000 fine.

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    4. example Thomas, 22, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in the shooting death of Travis Davis, 21. Witnesses told police in May 2009 that they saw several people involved in an argument in front of a home in west Charlotte and then heard gunfire. Davis suffered a gunshot wound and was taken to an area hospital, where he died. Thomas was sentenced to about five to seven years in prison.

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    5. 15 people, 14 plea bargains and one show trial, and Andy Murray puts this out as a success? All the plea bargain got the bare minimum, less than 2 years for shooting someone? That is all a life is worth in Mecklenburg? Murray is a joke.

      My son had a car accident.
      there were 20+ people involved
      One flew to Greese so he would not be charged for murder. His name is Peter Demas.
      Why would he run if he did nothing wrong to my son.
      Yes he drugged my son.
      The called Jeremy Parrinello, (that had been looking for my son all night from 7:30PM all night long.
      My son was picking up people that had no way to the party.
      My son was set up to be drugged, beaten andset on the exit going the wrong way for an hour.
      (By Thomas Scott Miller, and Christopher Bowman Herr.
      The beers Marsha Goodenow used as evidence in the beginning at the indictment were 4 unopend beers that Christopher Herr took time to climb into the back to retrieve the beers. Herr said he got the beers out of the fridge.
      In the meantime my son had left with two people he did not know, Thomas Scott Miller and Christopher Herr.
      They took time to drive the vehicle with my son passed out from the drugging.
      The way they were going was towards Scott Millers home.
      Brock would not have gone that way.
      My son sat in a vehicle passed out for an hour. Sitting on an exit going the wrong way.
      Now Marsha told these two guys jumped out of the jeep in fear for their lives.
      LIE>>>>>> They took time to get the beers out.
      Scott Miller said my son said no one could drive his fg jeep.
      Pretty sure Scott Miller was driving and decided he could not drive the fg. jeep.
      So it was turned around that Brock said that.
      No one questioned.
      Oh and the ones that drugged Brock, one flew to greece the day the Mar was. Marsha was the expert witness and the stupid judge allowed it , after saying I have never heard of this but will allow it.


      These are the beers that Marsha used as evidence.
      Michael a Demayo said there were no opened beers at my sons accident.
      they were punctured and spewed.

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    6. Jeffrey Jenkins, 30, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in connection with the 2006 shooting death of 33-year-old Charles “Jake” Melton in Matthews. Jenkins was sentenced to up to nearly two years in prison.

      Tricia Rawana, 33, pleaded guilty to felony death by vehicle. In 2009, police said Rawana was impaired when she drove the wrong way on East W.T. Harris Boulevard and struck another car head-on. The crash killed the other driver, 43-year-old Kim Mobley. Rawana, who was hospitalized for about a month after the crash, was sentenced to 20-33 months in prison.

      so after my son is used as an example, political pawn all these others rec far less than he did.
      It was an accident. Not intentional, and was set up.
      Laughrun knows this.
      Laughrun said if you take it to trial, your mother willo not be able to afford it. We never , ever discussed money. In fact Laughrun said not to worry about the money.
      I did not know about the law and did not know you had to have a contract.
      I started going elsewhere, exp. Kenneth Barnett, He asked three times is Laughrun court appointed , NO and he did not have you sign a contract. NO.
      He could not understand why not.......
      George jumped down my throat saying I know you are going to other lawyers.
      You will not get anywhere with these lawyers, I have spoken with them.
      He also in an argument we had over the phone, now you know we never discussed money.
      He had the audacity to send me a bill after telling me he would not work for me.
      No contract, no money discussed.
      The bill was for 5,000.
      It was not my place to pay him.
      Get it from Brock.
      He had told me he was not my lawyer.
      I asked him about the vehicle being let go in April, thinking it was still being held for investigation in August.
      I had racked up a huge bill.
      I wanted the paperwork that it said it was released.
      It was signed by no other than GL himself.
      George was still lying to me. He did know about the vehicle being released.
      He signed off on it in April , never advising anyone.
      The civil lawyers took care of that.
      Laughrun is a liar.
      Do not trust him.

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    7. The state hey patrol and ALE Putnem, typed up an their response to speaking with Jeremy Parrinello.
      They said there was only and , in it was in capital letters (Oral) only.
      Well when the civil got hold of everything, there was a written statement the very same day they the STate Hwy Patrol, and ALE Putnam, stating that everyone thinks I drugged brock, and Peter demas is the one that called me to let me know that Brock was at the party now. That was a l0:30 PM
      Another said , they could not get up with this guy, Tanner, but there was a written statement saying Brock did not act drunk.
      It was like he was on something.
      Brock was very upset and said he did not feel right.
      these statements were taken out of the original discovery.
      Anyone know Why????????

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  3. "Are you saying you are anti-gun or anti-killing? Do you want to do away with cars and guns as your story does not indicate anything other than 15 deaths from various reasons."
    Someone is drinking early this morning...

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  4. Why does it take so long to even get these cases to trial or to the "Pleas" that let them all basically walk. The system is broken when violent people are back on the streets in less than 2 years.
    All at Tax payers expense...so wrong from start to finish...and you will see these faces again!

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  5. Always more colored folk than White people in these mug shots.

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  6. Why do people who kills others while under the influence of drugs and alcohol barely get a slap on the wrist instead of the stiffer punishments they deserve.

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  7. statistics don't lie...happy MLK Day, I'm sure he's proud.

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  8. People this economy is leading good people to take desperate actions, no jobs,no income , bills due, children asking mommy and dad why? Be sure to vote, we are going in the right direction but it will surely get worse with a repub...

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  9. Twelve years of teaching and no student ever said they wanted to be a criminal or unsuccessful. Let these young people know that doing drugs and uneducated kills. Not just them but all involved if they break the law.

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  10. Timing a clusterbomb correctly Buy Diablo 3 Gold, it is possible to affect all of them with weak spot at the same time (functions superior within expected PvE). Any time you are struggling Guild Wars 2 Gems, you have a couple of selections for escaping: know-how three provides you with any in the opposite direction jump at the same time devastating only one give full attention

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  11. Cherelle Griffin was destined to be in the position she is in now. She first got a gun pointing charge in 2001. She was 12!!!

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