After pleading guilty to the 2021 fatal shooting of Calvin Buckner, Leon Grimes received his final sentencing in Christian Circuit Court on Wednesday.
Grimes was given a recommended 10-year sentence for second degree manslaughter and a 5-year sentence for the possession of a handgun by a convicted felon. Grimes will serve both sentences consecutively making for a 15-year sentence.
Before Grimes’ sentencing concluded, Christian Commonwealth’s Attorney Stephanie Bolen shared a victim statement focusing on Buckner’s family who was present in court. Buckner’s mother joined Bolen in front of Christian Circuit Judge Andrew Self as Bolen read a letter written by her highlighting her son’s life.
After she read the letter from Buckner’s mother, Bolen highlighted Grimes’ criminal record and history as a repeat offender. Bolen says he has a severe criminal history with a prior attempted murder conviction, a trafficking conviction, a possession of drug paraphernalia conviction, and other lesser charges.
Bolen says he has been given the opportunity for rehabilitation but he has not taken it and therefore she believes the recommended sentence should be considered seeing Grimes’ history.
Self honored the recommended sentence and Grime’s will be transferred to a state institution and will receive credit for the time he has already served since his arrest.