Robert E. Williams, 59, was indicted for murder in connection with the January 2011 murder of Michael Littlejohn. The jury convicted him on the lesser charge.
According to witness testimony at the trial, Littlejohn and a friend went to Williams’ house to purchase alcohol. The two men got into an argument, and Williams threatened Littlejohn with an ax handle. Littlejohn then threw Williams onto his own sofa. Williams got up to get his gun, and Littlejohn left. Williams shot him from his front porch. Littlejohn’s body was about 160 feet away from the porch.
Williams gave notice Wednesday that he was going to appeal the jury verdict.
Across the hall, Circuit Judge Bo Hollingsworth sentenced James Kenneth Rape, 55, of Childersburg to 18 years in prison and 32 years in prison for sexual abuse of a child under 12 and sodomy in the first degree,. The victim in both cases was a 7-year-old girl.
The girl testified about what Rape did to her in the summer of 2009.
Rape, the only defense witness, said he had slept in the same bed with the girl, but had gotten permission.
Rape also said he planned to appeal his conviction.
Also in Hollingsworth’s courtroom, Michael Bowden, 21, of Childersburg, was sentenced to 10 years, five years, five years and 12 months for manslaughter, two counts of assault in the second degree and one count of assault in the third degree.
Bowden was the driver in a one vehicle accident on the Childersburg-Fayetteville Highway that killed a 16-year-old girl and injured three other passengers.
Bowden was indicted for murder, two counts of assault in the first degree and one count of assault in the third degree, but pleaded guilty to the lesser offenses.
Hollingsworth also sentenced Samuel Lynn Woodruff Jr., 35, to 20 years and 10 years, for sodomy in the first degree and sexual abuse of a child under 12. The victim in this case was an 8-year-old girl, who was abused in the Woodruff’s home.
Woodruff pleaded guilty to both charges earlier this month.
Also in court this week:
• King sentenced Shardarrious J. Ragland, 21, to five years for sodomy in the second degree.
• King sentenced Jessica McCook, 23, to 24 months, suspended, 36 months probation for possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
• King sentenced Darrell J. Culberson, 36, to 10 years for shooting into an occupied building.
• King sentenced Roderick Brown, 41, to 60 months for distribution of a controlled substance.
• King sentenced Joseph McAdams, 55, to 15 years, split, three years in prison and three years probation for possession of cocaine. McAdams was indicted for trafficking but pleaded guilty to the lesser offense. Two misdemeanor charges were dismissed.
• King sentenced Quintavious Whitson, 22, to four years for theft of property in the first degree.
• King sentenced Qadarius M. Jews, 22, to four years for burglary in the third degree.
• King sentenced Harry McCleney, 49, to four years for theft of property in the second degree.
• King sentenced Ryan Lyle Evans, 34, to 15 years, reverse split, 36 months probation and 36 months to serve, for theft of property in the second degree.
• King sentenced Robert Wayne Whitten Jr., 29, to 12 years for hindering prosecution.
• Hollingsworth sentenced Billy Green, 32, to 10 years, reverse split, 2 years probation and 24 months to serve.
• Hollingsworth sentenced Brandon Gaddis, 21, to six years, reverse split, 3 years probation and 18 months to serve for possession of marijuana in the first degree. Gaddis was indicted for distribution of a controlled substance but pleaded guilty to the lesser charge.
• Hollingsworth sentenced Richard Scott, 55, to five years in prison for distribution of a controlled substance.
• Hollingsworth sentenced Richard Kirksey, 41, to six years for assault in the first degree.
• Hollingsworth sentenced Crystal Gail Plyer, 31 to three years, suspended, three years probation for possession of a controlled substance.
• Hollingsworth sentenced Kimberly S. Bagwell, 34, to five years, suspended, three years probation for theft of property in the first degree.
• Hollingsworth sentenced Janelle White, 54, to 12 months, split, four months in jail and two months probation for criminally negligent homicide. White was indicted for the felony offense of neglecting her mother, who subsequently died.
• Hollingsworth sentenced Joshua Colson, 35, to 15 years for receiving stolen property.
• Hollingsworth sentenced Donterio Navell Keith, 21, to six years for burglary in the third degree.
• Hollingsworth sentenced Walter Eugene McKenzie, 41, to 60 months for theft of property in the second degree.
• Hollingsworth sentenced William Kencaid Jones, 29, to 13 years each for rape in the second degree and sodomy in the second degree.
• Hollingsworth sentenced Michael Chatman, 29, to 48 months for theft of property in the first degree.
• Hollingsworth sentenced Joe Christopher Marler, 35, to 12 months, reverse split, two years probation, six months to serve for possession of a prescription drug without a prescription, possession of marijuana in the second degree and possession of drug paraphernalia. On the first count, Marler was indicted for possession of a controlled substance but pleaded guilty to the lesser charge.
Contact Chris Norwood at cnorwood@dailyhome.com
