A Wichita man who was facing a second trial in the shooting death of a Hutchinson man in 2008, entered a plea to reduced charges Friday afternoon in Reno County District Court.
22-year old Felton Williams Jr. entered pleas of guilty to voluntary manslaughter and aggravated burglary. He was immediately sentenced to 10 years in prison, about half of what he would have received if his first trial had not been overturned by the Kansas Court of Appeals
It was on September 1, 2008, that the victim, Kennith White, was found shot to death with two wounds, one to the leg and the head. His body was found after his brothers girlfriend became concerned because he didn’t answer his phone.
Williams along with Aubrey Oliver and Ronald Beard were arrested later that day after being stopped by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. Williams was interviewed and allegedly admitted to the killing. He was convicted and sentenced to 20-years in prison.
Williams then appealed his conviction saying the search of his vehicle by the Oklahoma troopers was illegal. He also sought to suppress his confession saying it was not made voluntarily, but the District Court denied the motions. The appeals court agreed with the defendant and order a new trial. But that all ended with the plea Friday afternoon before a court room filled with White’s family.
Oliver entered a plea in the case and is serving 11-years in prison, while Beard was found not guilty by a Reno County jury after spending two years in the county jail awaiting trial.