One of the men charged in the beating of a Nickerson man back in September of 2011 was scheduled to be sentenced Friday, but his attorney requested and was granted a continuance.
Jeremia Palmer, was charged with aggravated kidnapping but as part of a plea agreement the state amended the complaint changing the charge to conspiracy to commit first degree murder.
The case against Palmer and others centers on 28-year-old Larry McVey reporting that he had been kidnapped, beaten and robbed by the three men back on September 8, 2011.
He also entered pleas to conspiracy to commit aggravated kidnapping, aggravated burglary, aggravated battery, aggravated intimidation of a victim, two counts of criminal threat, one from another case. Then a charge of aggravated battery from a third case was knocked down to simple battery.
Palmer had also been charged with aggravated battery for an incident on July 22, 2011, when he allegedly battered Tyler Melton after he accused him of making some comment to his girlfriend. In the other case, he’s charged with criminal threat against Michael Young, which is reported to have occurred back on July 30, 2011.
Palmer will be sentenced by Judge Tim Chambers and both sides will be able to argue disposition. They did agree to recommend concurrent sentences, with the exception of one of the criminal threat convictions. That count would run consecutive to all the other counts.
His Attorney Alice Osburn asked for the continuance to allow her more time on putting together any motions she may want to present to the court as a part of her sentencing recommendation.
A co-defendant, Zachary Lawson was also offered a similar plea, but declined the offer. He’s charged with aggravated kidnapping, attempted aggravated robbery, aggravated battery, criminal threat, possession of drugs, possession of meth and marijuana. His case is awaiting a jury trial in front of Judge Tim Chambers. But, he also has charges by the feds for a case in Arkansas.
The third defendant in the case, 28-year-old Jedrik Smith was sentenced to 196-months for two cases against him including the kidnapping case.
Again, sentencing for Palmer pushed back two weeks.