JONESBORO — A Paragould man who admitted his role in the August 2011 murder-for-hire scheme against his son-in-law was sentenced Friday to 35 years in prison.
“I’m very sorry for what Ihad done,” Carl Kelley, 59, said moments before Craighead County Circuit Judge Victor Hill handed down Kelley’s sentence. “I wish it never happened.”
Kelley was one of four people charged in the Aug. 24, 2011, slaying of Jonesborobusinessman Marc Despain. Prosecuting Attorney Scott Ellington originally charged Kelley with capital murder but agreed to amend the charge to first-degree murder in exchange for a confession.
Police have said Kelley conspired with three others,including his daughter, Michelle Despain, to kill Marc Despain.
Michelle Despain had told police that she found her husband shot to death in the kitchen of their Jenni Lane home in southwest Jonesboro.
Authorities arrested Terrance Odell Barker, 28, of Jonesboro and Johnny Hubbard, 52, of Jonesboro along with Kelley about a week after the slaying.
Barker pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in Mayafter Ellington offered him a lesser charge in exchange for his testimony against the others. Barker was sentenced to 35 years in prison.
Hubbard pleaded guilty to hindering apprehension and was sentenced to 18 years.
Michelle Despain was arrested in May and charged with capital murder. Ellington said Friday that she will stand trial Feb. 11 in Craighead County Circuit Court.
During the brief sentencing hearing Friday, Kelley spoke with Hill, mumbling an admittance to the slaying and shrugging.
“I didn’t know what I was doing,” he said, quietly. “I’m very sorry for what I had done.”
Despain’s parents, Jack and Tana Despain, also spoke during the hearing, directing theircomments to Kelley.
“How could you, Carl, after all Marc had done?” Tana Despain asked. “You just snuffed out his life without a thought of anything but the smell of money you thought was coming.”
She said her son bought Kelley and his family a home and often paid for lavish vacations.
Although Ellington said he would not discuss a motive for the slaying, Tana Despain said Friday that she thought her son was killed so his wife could collect on a $500,000 life-insurance policy.
“This is how you repaid his love for his family?” she asked. “You have been nothing but the sorriest, lowlife scum, grandstanding, blowhard, bully from the start.”
Jack Despain also hurled insults at Kelley, calling him a “piece of scum lower than anything I have encountered or heard of on Earth.”
Despain said that when his son’s money began running out, Kelley feared his family wouldn’t receive the benefits anymore.
“I was pissed at you from the beginning,” Jack Despain said. “Carl, hear me now. If I could take your life and bring my son back, I would.”
Both Despains urged Kelley to testify against his daughter in her trial.
“With Kelley’s guilty plea and sentencing ... the state is one step closer in obtaining justice for Marc Despain and his parents,” Ellington said in a statement. “Today’s proceedings will allow us to focus our time and resources on the Michelle Despain case.”
Kelley was represented by Public Defender Katherine Streett of Little Rock, who said she wouldn’t comment because the case against Michelle Despain was not yet concluded.
Northwest Arkansas, Pages 9 on 01/05/2013