KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Vanessa Coleman was sentenced Friday to 53 years in prison for helping in the kidnapping, rape and murder of 21-year-old Channon Christian.
Coleman was the last of four people convicted and sentenced in the crimes against Christian.
The other three were also convicted of similar crimesagainst Christian’s 23-year-old boyfriend, Chris Newsom.
A jury convicted Coleman, of Lebanon, Ky., as a facilitator in the crimes against Christian.
The jurors did not find her guilty of crimes against Newsom.
Prosecutor Leland Price said Coleman provided “substantial assistance” to the three men convicted in the January 2007 murders.
He also cited her youth: She was 18 at the time of the killings.
In previous, separate trials, Coleman’s boyfriend Letalvis Cobbins and George Thomas were convicted and sentenced to life in prison without parole.
Lemaricus Davidson, who prosecutors said was the ringleader in the crimes, was convicted and sentenced to death.
Front Section, Pages 4 on 07/31/2010