http://www.al.com/news/huntsville/index.ssf/2015/04/russellville_man_gets_19_years.html
A Franklin County judge has sentenced a man who pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the shooting death of his live-in girlfriend more than four years ago. Jason Dewane Green will now serve 19 years in prison, which is just shy of the maximum sentence.
Green, 39, was originally charged with murder in the death of 27-year-old Shay Nicole Ledlow. Her body was found in their shared Russellville home on Jan. 30, 2011.
Franklin County District Attorney Joey Rushing said the couple had been experiencing domestic problems, according to Ledlow's mother. He said on the night she died, Ledlow called her mother and "screamed for help" and to come pick her up. Rushing said by the time her mother arrived, police were already there and Ledlow was dead.
Rushing said Green called 911 shortly after the call to her mother and reported that Ledlow had just shot and killed herself. He said the evidence at the scene told a different story. He said investigators determined that her body had been posed to look like a suicide and the gun was moved.
"A lot of things were very suspicious," Rushing said.
Green was arrested at the scene and charged with murder. He maintained a not guilty plea to this charge until Feb. 25, 2015, shortly before he was scheduled to begin trial. Rushing said he reached a plea agreement to a lesser charge of manslaughter at the "last minute." He said Ledlow's family agreed to the plea agreement.
Part of Green's plea was that he not receive the maximum sentence of 20 years, according to Rushing. He said after hearing testimony from Ledlow's mother on Wednesday, Circuit Judge Terry Dempsey sentenced him to 19 years instead.
He said the mother's tale of how the loss has affected their family had a "huge impact" and was a "difference maker" in the judge's decision.
A Franklin County judge has sentenced a man who pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the shooting death of his live-in girlfriend more than four years ago. Jason Dewane Green will now serve 19 years in prison, which is just shy of the maximum sentence.
Green, 39, was originally charged with murder in the death of 27-year-old Shay Nicole Ledlow. Her body was found in their shared Russellville home on Jan. 30, 2011.
Franklin County District Attorney Joey Rushing said the couple had been experiencing domestic problems, according to Ledlow's mother. He said on the night she died, Ledlow called her mother and "screamed for help" and to come pick her up. Rushing said by the time her mother arrived, police were already there and Ledlow was dead.
Rushing said Green called 911 shortly after the call to her mother and reported that Ledlow had just shot and killed herself. He said the evidence at the scene told a different story. He said investigators determined that her body had been posed to look like a suicide and the gun was moved.
"A lot of things were very suspicious," Rushing said.
Green was arrested at the scene and charged with murder. He maintained a not guilty plea to this charge until Feb. 25, 2015, shortly before he was scheduled to begin trial. Rushing said he reached a plea agreement to a lesser charge of manslaughter at the "last minute." He said Ledlow's family agreed to the plea agreement.
Part of Green's plea was that he not receive the maximum sentence of 20 years, according to Rushing. He said after hearing testimony from Ledlow's mother on Wednesday, Circuit Judge Terry Dempsey sentenced him to 19 years instead.
He said the mother's tale of how the loss has affected their family had a "huge impact" and was a "difference maker" in the judge's decision.
