An Arkansan accused of killing one person and wounding six others during a party in 2017 pleaded guilty Monday, a day before a jury was scheduled to be selected for his trial.
Deputy prosecutor Charlene Henry told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that Kalius "KK" Lane of Jonesboro received 30 years in prison for second-degree murder and 10 years each for two counts of first-degree battery.
"The battery charges will run concurrent with each other, but the murder runs consecutive with the battery charges for a total of 40 years," Henry said.
Lane, 21, was originally charged with first-degree murder in the death of 18-year-old Monterio Barnes in the early-morning hours of May 14, 2017, at The Basement, 311-B S. Main St, in Jonesboro. He also had faced six counts of first-degree battery.
According to the prosecutor, Barnes' family members gave victim-impact statements at Lane's hearing.
"It was powerful," Henry said.
Chauncey Thomas, 20, of Jonesboro, who also had been charged in the case, was expected to testify against Lane.
According to court documents, Thomas entered into a plea bargain in February after the prosecution learned that witnesses were recanting their testimony that he was one of the two shooters at the party.
He pleaded guilty to hindering apprehension, and the judge gave him a five-year suspended sentence with the expectation that he testify against Lane.
Lane's trial was scheduled to begin this week, with jury selection beginning Tuesday.
Read Tuesday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.
