Probation was denied Wednesday morning in Christian Circuit Court for the man who admitted to helping move the body of Justin Tyler Sawyer, who was fatally shot in Oak Grove in December of 2020.
Thirty-seven-year-old Gene Henry pled guilty to tampering with evidence in October and appeared Wednesday morning for final sentencing.
Defense Attorney Michael Cotthoff said Henry regrets his actions and is apologetic for his role in the events.
Judge John Atkins said probation would not be justice for the nature of the crime and sentenced him to four years in prison.
Dawuan Davis is the alleged shooter in the case and he’s charged with first-degree assault, kidnapping and first-degree robbery. Kentucky State Police say Marquel Sims was in the car with Davis and Sawyer on December 17, 2020 during a drug deal gone bad that led to Davis allegedly shooting Sawyer five times.
Sims reportedly got out of the car after the first two shots were fired and walked across KY 115 from the car at the Shell Station to the Pilot gas station. Police say Davis later in the night used the help of Henry to move Sawyer’s body from the back seat to the trunk of his stolen car.
Sims also accepted a plea deal for his role in the crime and was sentenced to five years in prison earlier this month.