An 18-year-old Magnolia man will spend up to 50 years in prison after pleading guilty to first-degree murder and aggravated robbery, his attorney said Friday.
De'Kota Despain was 16 when he was charged two years ago in the killing of 53-year-old Douglas Harwell, according to court records.
Despain pleaded guilty Thursday in exchange for prosecutors reducing a capital murder charge to first-degree murder and dropping aggravated residential burglary and theft of property charges, defense attorney Jeff Rosenzweig said.
A circuit judge sentenced Despain to 40 years for the murder charge and 10 years for the robbery charge, with the terms to be served consecutively, Rosenzweig said.
Prosecutors said Despain, who lived near Harwell, and a friend went to Harwell's house to kill him and rob him. They shot him to death, and Despain drove Harwell's truck away from the house.
NW News on 04/21/2018