Lewis guilty in shooting

Published 8:15 am Friday, December 11, 2009

COURTLAND—A Franklin man pleaded guilty in Southampton County Circuit Court on Thursday to charges in connection with a 2008 shooting.

Daremus Lewis, 21, appeared before Judge Rodham T. Delk Jr. and entered guilty pleas to charges of attempted robbery, aggravated malicious wounding, discharge firearm in public, and use of a firearm in the commission of attempted robbery.

Lewis’ sentencing for the four charges and a prior conviction of cocaine possession is scheduled for March 18.

Four other men have already been sentenced for their role in the shooting. Anterrio Bradley and Duray Hudson both received an active sentence of 8 years in October. Vernon Winstead received an active sentence of 25 years in September and Dominick Smallwood was sentenced to 12 years and 2 months in prison in July for his role in the case.

The last suspect, Jadon Artis, is scheduled to appear in court Friday.

All six men were charged in connection with the Sept. 30, 2008, shooting and attempted robbery of Timothy Warren of Franklin. Warren was found by police in the 400 block of Washington Street, bleeding heavily, according to Franklin police spokesman Lt. Tim Whitt. Police believe the shooting may have been gang-related.

Warren is a paraplegic and confined to a wheelchair as a result of injuries he sustained in the shooting.