Dequavion James pled guilty to manslaughter and other charges in Christian County Circuit Court Wednesday morning as part of a plea agreement in connection to the 2016 death of a 19-year old man in Oak Grove.
James, his attorney Ted Shouse and Commonwealth’s Attorney Rick Boling appeared before Chief Circuit Judge John Atkins where Boling recited the plea agreement with a recommended sentence totaling 20 years, including no eligibility for probation or shock probation.
click to download audioJudge Atkins accepted the plea agreement and asked Boling about a separate sentencing hearing, in which he explained the Commonwealth wanted to proceed forward with sentencing at this hearing.
click to download audioHowever, Shouse objected and said that he had spoken to the Probation and Parole Officer who said a pre-sentence investigation (PSI) report could be prepared in two weeks, which would be February 8th.
click to download audioBoling said the victim’s family is from out-of-state and was in the courtroom and would probably want sentencing to be conducted at this hearing, however, Judge Atkins said the family would be better served if the court proceeded in a deliberate way handling James’ sentencing.
click to download audioJudge Atkins set the final sentencing for February 8th at 11:30 a.m.
James was initially charged with murder which was amended to manslaughter in the death of 19-year old DeAndre Palmer. Police said James and Leonardo Miller fatally shot Palmer at Miller’s home in Oak Grove and then hid the body in a closet. Palmer’s body was reportedly eventually dumped on the side of Carder Road near Ghost Bridge, which was found on July 20, 2016.
Miller previously entered a guilty plea to murder, first-degree robbery and tampering with physical evidence. n January 2022, Judge Atkins sentenced Miller to 40 years in prison in January 2022.