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Three plead guilty to murder in Cocke County Circuit Court
Three men charged in a June 1, 2012 Cocke County murder/robbery, Thursday entered guilty pleas in Cocke County Criminal court before Judge Ben Hooper. Rico Derell Sterling, 25,and Keith Jamar Thomas, 26,of Knoxville along with James Michael Brewer, 28, Wilderness Trail, Cosby, faced charges of felony First Degree murder, attempted aggravated robbery, aggravated assault and conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery in the shooting death of William Andrew Mortimer, 27, at a mobile home on Leaf Way in the Carson Springs community. Mortimer had recently moved to the area from Ohio . In addition, the resident of the mobile home, Josh Baker, 26, sustained a non-life threatening gunshot wound to the head, and was treated at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville. Sterling and Thomas pleaded guilty to facilitation of First Degree Murder and conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery. Thomas also entered a plea to aggravated assault. Each was sentenced to a 15 year prison term. Brewer entered a plea to facilitation to commit second degree murder and received a 10 year sentence, with the term suspended to supervised probation. Judge Hooper asked Asst D.A. Joanne Sheldon why the difference in the sentences, and in response the prosecutor said the difference would have become clear at trial. The three defendants are prohibited from contact with Baker or with the family of Mortimer. Following the homicide, Cocke County Sheriff Armando Fontes had told the NewsSource, "The motive in this case was robbery. We have learned that Josh Baker has been involved in the sale and delivery of narcotics and the three suspects, who have drug habits and are strung out on pills, thought Baker would be an easy target for cash," the sheriff said. "When they went to the residence a struggle ensued, the individuals had weapons on them and as a result of drug addictions, we have one individual who is dead, another who is seriously injured and three lives that will be drastically affected." Judge Hooper also accepted guilty pleas from other defendants Thursday including; Belton Tyler Smith, 24, Oak Hills Road, Parrottsville, pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery, aggravated kidnapping, theft over $1,000, aggravated burglary and theft in connection with a January, 2015 incident. Martha Stokley, Long Creek Road, Del Rio, contacted authorities to report she had been robbed at gunpoint. The 61 year-old victim reported she was asleep when someone knocked on her door during the evening hours. She went to the door and was met by a man with a black bandanna over his face and wearing a black hoodie. The man asked to come into the home, and when Stokley denied the request, the man produced a shotgun, pointed it at her and forced his way into the residence. Smith went through the home looking for items to take and he asked if the victim had any money. After taking her jewelry, the defendant told the victim to carry her TV to her vehicle. He told her to drive while he sat on the bed of the truck. Near the home of Stokley's son, Sammy, the woman was told to stop and the robber picked up items he had earlier taken from the home of Sammy Stokley. During the incident the victim said the man made numerous threats to shoot her while pointing the gun at her. He was given a six year term as a Range Two offender, and may have no contact with the victims. Pamela Warden, 32, North Highway 340, Parrottsville was given a 12 year sentence on several burglaries and thefts as well as traffic violations. The defendant will attend a long-term drug rehab facility and upon completion will be on supervised probation for the balance of her sentence. Warden will pay a $2,050 fine and also pay restitution. Crystal Cavett,34, Flatwoods Way, Newport,originally charged with aggravated sexual battery and rape of a child under the age of 13, had those charges dismissed. She pleaded guilty to the reduced charge of aggravated assault, causing serious bodily injury to a minor child, according to Prosecutor Sheldon. Cavett was given a five year sentence but released on the time served, which is about 10 months. She will serve the sentence on supervised probation and also must comply with DCS requirements.
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