Judge sentences man to 28 years for murder
Lekameo Tibbs, 23, pleaded guilty to murder Tuesday in Union County Circuit Court Fourth Division, in front of friends and family members of his victim; Circuit Judge Robin Carroll sentenced Tibbs to 28 years in the Arkansas Department of Correction, with a credit of 281 days of pretrial incarceration, for killing Deddrick Williams on Oct. 6.
Tibbs’ charges were amended from first degree murder — a class Y felony punishable by up to life in prison — to second degree murder, a class A felony with a maximum penalty of 30 years imprisonment. A condition of the plea agreement included the state nolle prossing a firearm enhancement charge against Tibbs.
According to a probable cause affidavit, on the night of Oct. 6, El Dorado Police Department officers were dispatched to 1202 N. Miles in reference to a person having been shot. Officer Adam McInnis was first on the scene and reported seeing a large crowd around the front of the residence and Williams, with gunshot wounds to the upper torso, lying in the arms of a male witness. Williams later succumbed to injuries sustained in the shooting at the Medical Center of South Arkansas. The financial impact of the crime totaled $10,881.65.
Also during Tuesday’s court session:
• Brothers Kevin and Roshune Glosson pleaded guilty to stealing Apple iPhones from a display case in Walmart. On the charges of theft of property, both were sentenced to five years in ADC and six years of suspended imposition of sentence for the charges of breaking and entering. Walmart has not asked for restitution from the brothers, and they will be credited for time served during pretrial incarceration.
• Joe Jackson, Jr. pleaded guilty to driving with a suspended drivers license, accepting a plea agreement that nolle prossed counts of no proof of liability insurance and fictitious tags. Carroll sentenced Jackson to a $500 fine and 30 days of house arrest that will be monitored by a global positioning monitor. Jackson is allowed to leave his home for work, church, doctor visits, and other approved activities.
Marcus Edwards pleaded guilty to driving with a revoked drivers license. He
was sentenced to six days in the Union County Jail, but was credited for an equivalent of that time for his days of pretrial incarceration. Edwards must also pay a $500 fine as well as court cost and fees.
Michael Davis accepted a plea offer that amended his felony level charge of theft by receiving to a class-A misdemeanor. He was sentenced to one year of SIS. Davis must pay restitution and court cost and fees.
By pleading guilty to terroristic threatening in the first degree, Marc Faulkner accepted a plea agreement that amended the charge to aggravated assault in the first degree and nolle prossed his habitual offender status. Faulkner was sentenced to one year SIS and must pay a fine of $500.
Steven Myers pleaded guilty to domestic battery in the third degree and disorderly conduct. The first charge is a class A misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail, while the second is a class C misdemeanor, punishable by a fine up to $500 and/ or 30 days in jail. As part of his plea agreement, the charges against Myers may be dismissed on the condition of his completion of anger management. As it stands, Myers’ charges have been amended by the state of Arkansas to aggravated assault on a family or household member, while his charge of disorderly conduct was nolle prossed.
Kimberly Yarbrough accepted a plea agreement for her charge of domestic battery in the third degree. If Yarbrough completes anger management, her guilty plea will be withdrawn, and the charge will be dismissed.
Charges against Andrew Jones, including terroristic threatening in the first degree, two counts of aggravated assault on a family or household member, domestic battery in the third degree and endangering the welfare of a minor in the first degree were nolle prossed.
Jessie Ellerson, Jr. rejected a plea offer that consisted of a sentence of two years served in ADC. Ellerson is charged with theft of property valued at greater that $1,000 but less than $5,000. This crime is a class C felony and is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000. Ellerson’s case will go to trial on Aug. 4.
Stephen Herring pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Carroll sentenced Herring to two years in the ADC and two years SIS; he was credited with 131 days of pretrial incarceration. The state nolle prossed a charge of theft by receiving a firearm and Herring’s habitual offender status on the possession charge.
Charges of theft of property against Kyree Tubbs were dismissed on the basis of his completion of the Smarter Sentencing program. Charges of second degree forgery against Natashia Thrower, who also completed SSP, were dismissed. Thrower also paid restitution for the financial toll her crime caused.
Melvin Thomas pleaded guilty to fraudulent insurance acts on the agreement that his habitual offender status would be removed. He was sentenced to three years of SIS. Thomas must pay a $500 fine as well as court cost and fees.