BENTONVILLE -- James Michael Smith apologized Friday morning for his role in a robbery scheme that led to the killing of a Springdale man.
Edward Abel, 62, was pronounced dead at Northwest Medical Center-Springdale on Aug. 16, 2013.
Smith, 49, of Springdale pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and aggravated robbery.
Smith, dressed in black-and-white jail attire, said he wanted to apologize to Abel's family. It was never his intention for Abel to be killed, he said.
"I apologize to everybody, especially Mr. Abel's family," James Smith said.
Springdale police went to Abel's home on East Brown Road in Springdale in Benton County about 11:15 p.m. Aug. 13. Police found Abel on his kitchen floor.
A woman reported Abel left a message on her voice mail, according to court documents. The woman could hear Abel pleading with people who demanded to know where he kept a safe. Abel also could be heard telling someone to take his wallet because that was all he had, according to court documents.
Prosecutor Nathan Smith said in court John Armando Guerra of Duson, La., and James Smith broke into Abel's home. Guerra stabbed Abel when the two struggled. Abel died from his injuries.
Guerra previously pleaded guilty to capital murder and aggravated robbery in connection with Abel's death. Guerra was sentenced in June to life in prison without parole for capital murder and 40 years in prison for aggravated robbery.
James Smith told Circuit Judge Brad Karren he wasn't coerced into pleading guilty and he understood he was waiving his rights to a jury trial and appeal.
The prosecutor and James Smith's attorneys Drew Ledbetter and Tyler Benson reached the deal. Prosecutors reduced the charge of capital murder to first-degree murder as part of the plea deal.
Nathan Smith told Karren law enforcement and Abel's family didn't object to the plea agreement.
Karren accepted the plea agreement and Smith's guilty pleas.
Smith was sentenced to 30 years in prison for murder. He received a 40-year suspended sentence for aggravated robbery. He must serve at least 21 years before he will be eligible for parole.
It was important to James Smith that people know that he didn't take part in Abel's murder, Ledbetter said.
"Jim did not do the stabbing," Ledbetter said. "Jim participated in the robbery but did not know anyone was going to die.
"He did not know Mr. Abel was going to get hurt. He did not know his co-defendant very well."
James Smith and Guerra wanted to steal gold coins from Abel. Nathan Smith said after the hearing that Abel had hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of coins in his home. Smith and Guerra didn't get any of the coins in their robbery scheme. Springdale police took possession of the coins after Abel's death.
Nathan Smith told Karren that Abel's family planned to retrieve the coins from Springdale police later Friday.
"This is the appropriate resolution in view of James Smith's role in this crime," Nathan Smith said. "It recognizes that James Smith carried out a violent home invasion along with his co-defendant, John Guerra, which led to John Guerra stabbing Mr. Abel and causing his death. By this sentence, James Smith has been held accountable for his participation in this murder."
Pamela Jerrolds of Springdale, John Adams of Springdale and Sydney Adams of Duncan, Okla., pleaded guilty to theft-related charges in connection with the theft of gold and silver coins from Abel in 2012. They each were placed on probation and ordered to pay $13,000 in restitution. The three weren't arrested in connection with Abel's murder.
NW News on 08/15/2015