http://www.newsenterpriseonline.com/articles/2007/05/15/news/news01.txt
Judge Coleman will review deal that led to recovery of body, promises killer 20-year sentence

SONORA — The mother of shooting victim Roy Jeffries said she was made to believe her son’s death was an accident when she agreed to a deal that could jail her son’s killer for 20 years.

But after Jeffries’ body was recovered and after hearing the confession of suspect Clayton Tae Kerr, Margaret Brown learned her son’s death was premeditated and unprovoked.

While Kerr’s attorney, Roger Rigney, and Hardin Commonwealth’s Attorney Chris Shaw brokered a deal to imprison the confessed killer, it has not been approved by Hardin Circuit Judge Janet Coleman.

Plans are for Brown and other Jeffries family members today to again explain how Jeffries’ death has impacted them.

Brown said her feelings about the deal and her son’s death haven’t changed.

“I think it’ll be up to Ms. Coleman,” Brown said Monday. “I guess we’re going to have to be OK with the deal.”

The case was set for disposition and sentencing two weeks ago, but Coleman, wanting a clear understanding of the family’s thoughts of the deal that led to a charge of manslaughter, gave victims two weeks to think before voicing their thoughts a final time. During what was to be the case’s final hearing two weeks ago, the family gave Coleman mixed signals on their thoughts of the deal — with some, including Brown — telling Coleman the system had been blackmailed into striking a deal that would let a murderer off with manslaughter.

The deal was struck nine days after Jeffries was reported missing. Police and prosecutors were contacted by Rigney to strike a deal.

Brown said Rigney made the killing sound like an accident prior to the deal being struck, but said she didn’t fault him for doing his best for his client.

The deal included Kerr’s confession, which led police to Jeffries’ body. The body was found in a shallow grave behind the Kerr family’s mini-farm outside White Mills.(I lived here until I was 18 and never saw a non-white- Demonica) Police found a single gunshot to the back of Jeffries’ head and a hand still in his coat pocket.

According to prosecutors, Kerr confessed to shooting Jeffries in the back of the head and burying him in a wooded area with the help of his girlfriend, Savannah Meeks. She reportedly held a flashlight while he dug the grave.

Prior to Kerr contacting Rigney, Jeffries’ whereabouts were unknown. He was last seen Jan. 27 after leaving work. Investigators had no body to launch a death investigation and no idea what had happened.

Investigators and attorneys in the case agree the body might have not yet been found if not for Kerr’s confession. That confession would not have occurred when it did without the plea agreement.

Brown said she understood the deal and why it took place, but thinks the Commonwealth should look closer at plea deals before agreeing to them.

If Coleman approves the plea agreement, Kerr will be sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for killing Jeffries. Kerr could be eligible for parole after serving 17-and-a-half years of the sentence.

[color="Red"]Meeks, who was charged with tampering with evidence, has agreed to a three-year sentence for her role. She could be eligible for parole after serving 20 percent of that sentence.

Both deals are subject to the court’s approval.

The cases against Kerr and Meeks could go to trial if Coleman does not approve of the agreements.

BREAKING NEWS: Kerr gets 20 years for manslaughter
http://www.newsenterpriseonline.com/articles/2007/05/15/news/news00.txt

SONORA — Confessed killer Clayton Tae Kerr was sentenced Tuesday morning to 20 years imprisonment for the January shooting death of Roy Marshall Jeffries after a Hardin County judge and the victim’s family approved a deal for his conviction on manslaughter.

Jeffries grandfather, Freddy Hoagland, said he would have preferred a murder conviction with the same sentence, but like others in Jeffries’ family, accepted the plea agreement as the best resolution under unusual circumstances.

“They need to call it what it is. It’s nothing but cold-blooded murder,” he said, “but we can’t take a chance on letting him walk.”

[color="Red"]Jeffries’ family members previously described the deal as blackmail since evidence obtained through the deal, via Kerr’s confession, would not be admissible in a murder trial if the court chose that route versus approval of the deal.

The agreement lessening Kerr’s charge from murder to manslaughter was brokered by prosecutors and Kerr’s attorney prior to investigators recovery of a body or any confession of murder. That came about by Kerr seeking the legal advice of attorney Roger Rigney, who negotiated with Hardin Commonwealth’s Attorney Chris Shaw for a lesser charge in exchange for Kerr’s confession, the body and the weapon used.

Hardin Circuit Court Judge Janet Coleman (Who I might add is a fucking bitch, from personal experience- Demonica) approved the deal.

Kerr could be eligible for parole after serving 17-and-a-half years of the sentence.

Bob White can be reached at 769-1200 Ext. 241.