HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Billy J. Craig, Jr. avoided a jury trial Tuesday and entered a “no contest” plea and was found guilty conspiracy to commit first degree murder. The conviction is connected to the murder of Jennifer Heckel on June 14, 2011.
The state says Craig conspired with Charles Christopher Logsdon and possibly Matthew Barnes to rob and kill another woman over drugs and money and went to the wrong house when they killed Heckel while her young son was in the next room. You may recall that after the killers left the home, he ran to a neighbors home for help.
Logsdon was convicted by a jury of first degree murder and other related charges and received a 73-year sentence. This after a three week jury trial in November of 2012. That case is currently on appeal.
In return for Craig’s plea, the state agreed to dismiss all other charges pending in the case, dismiss two pending cases against him involving distribution of drugs and a financial fraud crime, and recommend that a pending contempt of court allegation be dismissed.
District Attorney Keith Schroeder says he’ll recommend the maximum sentence allowed under sentencing guidelines. The crime is a level two person felony with a maximum sentence of around 15-years in prison. It’s believed that Craig never actually entered the Heckel home, but drove Logsdon and Barnes. Although Barnes has yet to be charged in association with the murder, he is currently serving time for drug crimes. He’s eligible for parole in June of 2017.
Schroeder says they knew the plea agreement had been reached last week, but it didn’t come before Judge Tim Chambers until Tuesday.
Sentencing is set for Jan. 30, 2015 at 1:30 p.m.