A Sonora woman has pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in the 2017 shooting death of Gary Dean Johnson, 63, of Hindsville.
Candy Sue George, 36, was arrested at a Fayetteville sandwich shop the day after the June 26, 2017, homicide.
She initially pleaded innocent to a charge of capital murder. But a plea agreement was reached earlier this month to the lesser charge of first-degree murder, according to Madison County Circuit Court filings.
Circuit Judge Mark Lindsay sentenced George to 40 years in prison.
According to the preliminary probable-cause report from James Brett Pritchard, a special agent with the state police, George "confessed" to shooting Johnson.
George told police she and Johnson had argued, and they agreed she should go to her mother's house. But when she tried to leave, George said Johnson pinned her down and assaulted her, according to the report.
The second time she tried to leave, Johnson moved toward her.
"She picked up a gun and fired at Johnson," according to the report. "George thinks she missed him with that shot. Johnson came on towards George, and George fired again and Johnson went to the floor."
NW News on 10/19/2018