Wednesday, January 16, 2019 12:33 pm
Suspect in Easter slaying sentenced to 3 years
MATTHEW LEBLANC | The Journal Gazette
A key witness in the Easter morning slaying of Javon Burnett was ordered today to spend three years in prison for his role in the crime.
Joshua Smiley, 21, had been charged with murder in the shooting death of Burnett but pleaded guilty Jan. 3 to assisting a criminal as part of a plea agreement. He was sentenced in Allen Superior Court this morning.
Smiley drove Tyrion McNair, 25, to The Summit at Ridgewood Apartments, where McNair shot Burnett, 26, more than a dozen times. A jury convicted McNair of murder at trial last week, and Smiley testified against him.
Smiley said he thought they were going to the complex to buy marijuana.
McNair is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 1.
mleblanc@jg.net