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father guilty in girl's slaying
Father pleads guilty in daughter's shooting death
BY ELLEN BILTZ
Date published: 6/6/2008
BY ELLEN BILTZ
Earl Wayne "Butch" Reynolds sat with his head down, wiping his eyes and biting his lower lip yesterday morning.
The 45-year-old Partlow man waited solemnly in Spotsylvania County Circuit Court as judge David H. Beck decided to accept the agreement, in which Reynolds pleaded guilty to the murder of his 13-year-old daughter.
Beck read each indictment aloud and Reynolds replied "guilty," hesitantly and quietly, to the charges of first-degree murder, use of a firearm in commission of a felony and malicious wounding.
Reynolds opted yesterday to accept the plea agreement rather than face the jury trial scheduled for next week.
He was charged with the murder of his daughter, Kayla Reynolds, after she was shot to death in the early morning hours last Aug. 20 on the family's front porch.
Earl Reynolds was also charged with the aggravated malicious wounding of Amber Barnett, his pregnant stepdaughter, for a gunshot wound to her neck.
That charge, however, was reduced to malicious wounding yesterday by Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney John C. Bowers, in exchange for the plea.
In August, Reynolds was also charged with two counts of using a firearm in commission of a felony, one of which Bowers dropped yesterday as well.
Reynolds' pleas of guilty were all Alford pleas, and his defense attorney, Mark Gardner, told the court that in Reynolds' case, the Alford plea was because his client did not have a clear recall of the events that led to his daughter's death.
"He wants the court and the community to know he takes full responsibility," Gardner said.
Reynolds will be sentenced Aug. 27.
First-degree murder carries a maximum of life in prison; malicious wounding carries a maximum of 20 years in prison; and the firearms charge carries a mandatory three years.
Bowers said the sentencing guidelines for the case call for 34 years in prison, which would make Reynolds 79 when he is released.
Bowers said however, that he would probably ask for more time behind bars than the guidelines call for.
"There is absolutely no agreement regarding the ultimate sentence," he said.
Gardner said in court yesterday that he would be presenting a psychiatric evaluation at the sentencing hearing.
Read more stories about Spotsylvania
Date published: 6/6/2008
Most recent reader comments:
We see this type thing happening more and more. why did not some of the other family members see this coming?.
the only reason he pleaded guilty was to avoid a jury trial and death sentence. SORRY SOB...
just a sad case.....sounds like Dad realizes what he did and is accepting his punishment....this is what drugs can do to you..it's horrible
Neet to get tough!
(posted by
beachbum1
, June 6, 2008 9:24 pm)
Commonwealth Attorney's need to stick with the charges instead of making plea agreements. Let a Judge or jury decide if someone is guilty and what their punishment should be. I am sure the sentence for a murder charge is more severe than a malicious wounding charge. Quit letting these criminals off the hook! The Commonwealth Attorney is an elected position--remember that the next time you vote! We need to get tough with the criminals in our community, and protect our children!
Why?
(posted by
JaneyK
, June 6, 2008 3:48 pm)
Why is it that people keep killing their kids? This sick bastard killed one and shot another. I hope he suffers immensely during his stay in prison. Amber's life will never be the same. She will have to live with this forever. Yet this druggie will have shelter and free meals for the rest of his life. I don't envy these attorneys who have to represent these scumbags. They are torn between their own morals and their job. I could not imagine having to stand next to this dirtbag in court and defend him.
Send him away....
(posted by
OBXbound
, June 6, 2008 1:34 pm)
If John Bowers asks for anything less than life in prison, he will be doing a major disservice to all parties involved in this! Reynolds needs to rot in his cell until the day he dies. Good luck to Amber during this difficult time and the long emotional recovery ahead of you!
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