James sentenced to 20 years for role in 2016 Oak Grove murder

Sentencing was held Wednesday morning in Christian Circuit Court for 24-year old Dequavion James, one of the two men convicted for their roles in the 2016 shooting death of De’Andre Palmer in Oak Grove.

The original arrest warrant says that on July 16, 2016, James was told by 25-year old Leonardo Miller to shoot Palmer when given a nod. When Miler nodded to James, he pulled the trigger and shot Palmer once.  Palmer was then shot a second time by Miller and Palmer’s body was eventually discarded near Ghost Bridge on Carter Road.

James on January 5 pled guilty to manslaughter in the first-degree, first-degree robbery and tampering with evidence as part of a deal that came with a recommended 20 year sentence.

Before sentencing was carried out, Palmer’s mother addressed James directly and said her son had dreams and ambitions he never got to see through.

She told James he and Miller treated her son like garbage and said God will deal with them for their actions.

Judge John Atkins adhered to the plea agreement and sentenced James to 20 years in prison.

Miller previously pled guilty to murder, robbery and evidence tampering as part of a plea deal that came with a 40 year prison sentence.