Teenagers Marquis Fleming and Andre Pridgen pleaded guilty to one count each of second degree murder and robbery with a dangerous weapon in Sampson County Superior Court Wednesday in the murder of a Harrells man in September 2007.

According to District Attorney Dewey Hudson, after the defendants pleaded guilty to the murder and subsequent robbery of victim Earl Jeffery Newton, 31, they were sentenced to serve a minimum of nearly 19 years in prison.

Each received a minimum of 160 months and maximum of 201 months for the second degree murder and a minimum of 65 months and maximum of 87 months for robbery with a dangerous weapon, with the sentences to run consecutively.

State’s evidence showed that on Sept. 10, 2007, the Sampson County Sheriff’s Office responded to Newton’s residence at 6935 Wildcat Road in Harrells. Once on the scene, they found Newton, who suffered from a mental disability and lived alone, inside the residence dead from a shotgun wound to the head.

Hudson said informants gave information to the Sheriff’s Office that several people were involved with the murder of Newton.

On Sept. 18, co-defendant Christopher Smith, 19, who pleaded guilty three months ago, admitted to investigators that he drove the van to the scene that carried passengers Brandon Rice, Fleming, Pridgen, Rocheal Dobson and a juvenile to the victim’s trailer.

Smith said all of them initially went inside the trailer and met with the victim, but some of them returned to the van leaving Rice, Dobson and the juvenile inside. Smith told investigators he heard several shots from a shotgun. Smith said Dobson ran out of the residence yelling that they had shot the victim with his own gun — he also told investigators that Rice and the juvenile said they had killed Newton.

An autopsy of Newton, conducted in Chapel Hill, indicated that he died from gunshot wounds to the head and the chest. The wounds were consistent with being shot from a shotgun.

According to Smith’s statements, all of them then went back inside the trailer and took clothes, shoes and money.

Smith pleaded guilty to second degree murder and robbery with a dangerous weapon in March and agreed to testify against any co-defendants if called upon by the state.

Rice would plead guilty to the first-degree murder of Newton in February in Duplin County Superior Court. He also pleaded guilty to the May 2007 murder of cab driver Jesse Faison Jr. in Duplin County. He was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences without parole.

Law enforcement made contact with Fleming, who was 17 at the time of the murder, and he admitted that Rice and Pridgen planned the robbery. Fleming also told investigators that he went into the trailer after the murder and stole property belonging to Newton.

When investigators talked with Pridgen, who was 16 at the time of the murder, he admitted to being with the group, but denied any involvement with the robbery.

Charges remain pending against Rocheal Dobson and one juvenile.

Hudson said Wednesday’s guilty pleas resulted in substantial active sentences for Fleming and Pridgen of 18 to 24 years in the N.C. Department of Corrections.

“It is hoped that these pleas, along with the pleas entered by Christopher Smith and Brandon Rice, will provide some closure to the family of the victim, Earl Jeffery Newton,” Hudson stated.

To reach Doug Clark call 910-592-8137 ext. 123 or send e-mail to sisports@myclintonnc.com.