BY JULIE ANN SANCHEZ
The Shorthorn staff
Kyle Johnson, the suspect in
the October 2005 murder case
of UTA degreed undergraduate
Samuel J.
Lea, pleaded guilty
to murder Friday, said Alana
Minton, Tarrant County district attorney.
“Given the evidence we...
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BY JULIE ANN SANCHEZ
The Shorthorn staff
Kyle Johnson, the suspect in
the October 2005 murder case
of UTA degreed undergraduate
Samuel J.
Lea, pleaded guilty
to murder Friday, said Alana
Minton, Tarrant County district attorney.
“Given the evidence we had
against him, his lawyer probably thought it was best to make
a plea of ‘guilty,’ ” Minton said.
Johnson was sentenced the
same day to life in prison with
eligibility of parole in 30 years.
Johnson’s lawyer Larry
Moore said he approached the
district attorney after much
thought over the sentence that
would be given to Johnson if he
were found guilty on trial.
“When you wave the death
penalty in a case, the only possibility is life in prison,” Moore
said.
Johnson’sage—22—played
a major factor in negotiating a
plea bargain with the state.
Moore said Johnson has already served two years, leaving
him with more than 28 years
left until he would be eligible
for parole.
Moore said the state’s strong
case against Johnson included a
vid
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