Corey D. Tate made a plea of guilty to second-degree murder and second-degree attempted murder in the First Division of the 13th Judicial Circuit Court of Union County on Thursday.
Tate is alleged to have been involved in a conflict at The Brick House, 1841 Junction City Road, with Brandon M. Sanders and Casey Frazier last November. The conflict ended in the death of Sanders and wounding of Frazier, who was hospitalized in Little Rock for serious injuries.
Judge Hamilton Singleton sentenced Tate to serve three concurrent sentences in the Arkansas Department of Corrections: 28 years for the charge of second-degree murder; 20 years for second-degree attempted murder and 20 years for possession of a firearm by certain persons.
Other court business Thursday included William Jeffrey Moore pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine. In April, he completed a local hospital program related to drugs and now attends meetings three times a week. He will serve five years of probation which includes continuing to receive counseling for substance abuse and to continue attending the meetings.
Jeremy Vines was sentenced to probation plus 236 days (in addition to the 129 days already served in the county jail) for possession of a controlled substance.
Anthony Jackson pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by certain persons after unknowingly being in a borrowed car with a pistol he said he did not know about.
“I am sure you will do an inventory of another’s car in the future,” Singleton said.
Jackson was sentenced to six years of suspended imposition of a sentence, meaning he will essentially be placed on probation. The suspended imposition can be revoked if Jackson is charged with a crime within the six-year time period.
Jeremiah Rader, currently housed in the Ouachita County Jail, pleaded guilty to having possession of a controlled sentence,
“I was pulled over after being at a known drug residence and there was a syringe in the car seat beside me. I did not see it,” he said. “I stopped going to NA (Narcotics Anonymous) and it went down hill from there.”
Rader already is waiting to be transferred to the Arkansas State Penitentiary for a six year sentence. Singleton sentenced him to six years of suspended imposition of sentencing.
In other cases related to violation of probation:
Courtney Faison pleaded guilty to violating his probation with possession of a controlled substance. He admitted he had the substance in his pocket and had forgotten about it. Singleton accepted his plea and noted he had violated his probation and suspended imposition of a sentence. Reviewing Faison’s history, Singleton said, “I don’t see you getting better, only worse. I am not sure more time should be spent trying to help you. I will think about this before I sentence you.” Sentencing will be at a later date.
Kristopher Ambrose pleaded true that he had stopped reporting for probation. He said that in the future he knows he will, “Report every day, go to church and go back to work.” As a first offender, he was given another opportunity to work through the court guidelines for having his records sealed on completion of his terms of probation.
Derek Q. Brown admitted he had taken money with his “fall partner” (co-defendant) while on probation. He was sentenced to 15 years at the Department of Correction with 72 days credit for time in the Union County Jail. Singleton warned him, “Let me be clear: When you get out. If you do this again, there will be a trial.”
Christopher Green admitted he was guilty of failing to report and to taking drugs. He said, “I was doing good until my mom passed away and I went down hill.” He asked for another chance. He was sentenced to three years at the Community Correction Center (CCC).
Nefretiri Carter’s probation was revoked during a bench trial for having shoplifted at Dollar General. Asked what she had taken, she said, “My baby needed t-shirts.” “And that makes it okay to steal?” Singleton asked. She also tested positive for methamphetamine while on probation. Singleton asked her “what did it cost you?” “A lot of trouble,” she replied. He said he meant monetarily and she responded that “a friend gave it to me.” “Trust me that was not a friend,”Singleton said and sentenced her to 120 days in the county jail with 41 days of credit. He cautioned her that as a first offender she was blowing off the opportunity to have her record sealed at the end of her period of probation.
Jovonte Deundra Vanhook also failed to report for probation and tested positive for drugs. Because he has a drug problem he was sentenced to four years at CCC.
Three people appeared before Singleton on petitions to revoke their probation for failure to abide by the terms of probation: Patricce Hopkins, Michael Shane Murphey and Terell Hilliard. Each will appear before Singleton later for a bench trial.