FAYETTEVILLE — James Patton, the last of four people who beat Ronnie Lee Bradley to death, changed his mind and took a plea bargain Tuesday after five jurors were seated at his trial.

Patton, 35, was charged with being an accomplice to capital murder and kidnapping. Prosecutors waived the death penalty in Patton's case.

Patton pleaded guilty to being an accomplice to first-degree murder and kidnapping. He was sentenced to 60 years at the Arkansas Department of Correction with 30 years suspended. Patton will have to serve 70 percent of the sentence before he is eligible for parole.

"It was clear from the evidence he was the least culpable," said John Threet, Washington County prosecutor. "The four of them, I think the sentences they got were commiserate with their involvement. It was an appropriate resolution."

Threet said an earlier trial indicated Patton tried to stop the beating but ended up getting smacked around. Patton also had multiple opportunities to get out of the situation or seek help and chose not to do so.

Threet said negotiation began in earnest Monday. A relative of Bradley, as well as law enforcement officials, agreed with the deal, he said. The basis of the plea was that Patton drove the vehicle at some point in the evening while Bradley was being beaten.

Circuit Judge William Storey sentenced Patton immediately.

"I've seen this case for the fourth time and it remains clear the use and abuse of drugs and alcohol resulted in one life being destroyed and others deeply affected," Storey said. "Mr. Patton, you made a terrible choice in the people you associated with."

Bradley, 48, was severely beaten and strangled. His body was dumped Dec. 27, 2012, in a driveway in rural southwest Washington County.

Dr. Charles Kokes, state medical examiner, said Bradley had more than 100 nonfatal cuts, scrapes and bruises to his head, face, neck, chest, back, arms and legs. Kokes estimated the injuries came from at least 50 blows. Bradley died from bleeding around the brain because of blows to the head and damage to his larynx from being strangled with a seat belt.

A jury convicted Heather Carlene Swain, 36, earlier this year of being an accomplice to capital murder and kidnapping. She received a mandatory life term without the possibility of parole on the murder charge and an additional 25 years on the kidnapping charge.

Prosecutors said Swain, Patton, Timothy Swinford and Anthony Allen Swinford drove around rural areas of the county in her car for eight hours while Anthony Swinford repeatedly beat Bradley.

"This was her deal and the hammer was Allen with Tim helping on the deal," Threet said. "They didn't know he was going to die but they went too far and caused his death. Drugs and alcohol wrecked five lives in one night."

The defense maintained Swain was forced to participate. But, Swain had multiple opportunities when she was alone to call for help. She also could have asked for help at four different stores where the group stopped to buy more gasoline and beer. The group also encountered several people during their drive.

The Swinford brothers avoided the death penalty by pleading guilty last year.

Anthony Swinford, 35, pleaded guilty in November to accomplice to first-degree murder and kidnapping and was sentenced to two consecutive 40-year terms in prison.

Timothy Swinford, 37, pleaded guilty in December to accomplice to first-degree murder and kidnapping. He was sentenced to 80 years in prison with 30 years suspended. He will have to serve 35 years before being eligible for parole. He was given credit for 360 days jail time served.

The only public account of the murder came from Anthony Swinford who testified during Swain's trial. Swinford took primary responsibility for killing Bradley and told jurors Swain yelled at Bradley, slapped Bradley and "lugged" Swinford on by telling him things she knew would incite his anger. Patton hit Bradley to show off for Swain, Swinford said.

Swinford told jurors he and Bradley had a history because of their relationships with Swinford's late wife, Amy. He said Amy had left him for Bradley and died in September 2012. Swinford said there was suspicion Bradley gave Amy pills that killed her.

There were also related incidents where Bradley stabbed Swinford after Swinford broke into Bradley's home and when Swinford left a note on Bradley's door written in blood.

Swinford said the two men had agreed, after Amy died, to stay away from each other.

Swinford said Swain picked Bradley up while the group was on the way to buy beer. Swinford was waiting in the cargo area of Swain's SUV.

"I'm not sure he ever seen me," Swinford said during Swain's trial. "I'm not sure he would have gotten in the car if he'd seen me."

Swinford said he had been drinking and shooting up methamphetamine for several days and was "out of control." When the subject of Amy came up, Swinford went off and started beating Bradley in the car while Swain was driving, he said.

"I punched him in the face. I hit him hard, knocked him out," Swinford said. "He fought back at first."

Swinford was several years younger and had about 40 pounds on Bradley, who also suffered heart problems.

Swinford said he choked Bradley with a seat belt. The group stopped several times to beat Bradley by the side of the road before throwing him out of the vehicle.

"We all discussed after he was beat up where to take him," Swinford said.

Bradley begged several times to be taken home, according to court documents.

NW News on 04/02/2014