Two teenagers were sentenced in the death of another Warsaw teen in July 2008, concluding a case that saw two others given time behind bars in the shooting death.

Jordan Guy of Warsaw and Ivan Wallace of Turkey, both 17 at the time of the offense, were sentenced in Duplin County Superior Court Monday for accessory after the fact to second degree murder in the death of Derrick Shonte Barden, who was shot as he talked with friends in a Warsaw negihborhood July 3, 2008.

Guy was sentenced to a minimum of 52 months and a maximum of 72 months in the N.C. Department of Corrections. Wallace was sentenced to a minimum of 40 months and a maximum of 57 months. Guy has a prior conviction for possession of drug paraphernalia. Wallace has no prior criminal record.

Guy and Wallace both pleaded guilty to the felony accessory charge in December 2009. Both agreed to testify truthfully against co-defendants Joleski Floyd and Devon Hobbs, which was not necessary given the subsequent guilty pleas of Floyd and Hobbs.

Floyd, 18, of Warsaw, pleaded guilty in January to the second degree murder of Barden and was sentenced to a minimum of 10 years, five months in state prison. Hobbs, 19, also of Warsaw, pleaded guilty earlier this month to accessory after the fact to second degree murder in Barden’s death, along with felony marijuana charges. He received a minimum of 51 months and a maximum of 71 months in prison.

Shortly after midnight July 3, 2008, Warsaw Police Department officers responded to a call at the 200 block of Matthews Street at the Stewart Creek Apartments in Warsaw, where they found Barden shot in the upper torso. According to witnesses, Barden was sitting on a car talking to his friends when he was shot. He died shortly thereafter.

An autopsy confirmed the single gunshot to Barden’s upper, exterior left arm near his shoulder. It revealed that the bullet traveled through Barden’s chest cavity, striking both the lungs and heart, causing his death.

During investigation by Warsaw police officers and State Bureau of Investigation agents, it was determined that Hobbs, Joleski Floyd, Jordan Guy and Ivan Wallace were in the woodline near the apartment complex when the shooting occurred. However, initial statements provided to law enforcement by Guy and Wallace were not consistent.

After further interviews, both defendants indicated they were present in the woodline near the apartments and offered statements “crucial” in prosecuting the shooter, Joleski. According to prosecutors, both defendants cooperated with law enforcement and provided statements that helped secure the convictions of Floyd and Hobbs.

Hobbs told the SBI that he saw an AK-47 assault rifle in the wooded area, but said he was not present when the shooting occurred. However, he admitted to SBI agents that he got the gun after the shooting and placed it in the trash near the apartment complex. The weapon was never located by law enforcement.

In court Monday, both Guy and Wallace offered apologies to the victim’s family, saying they were sorry the shooting occurred. Both said they knew the victim. Wallace told the victim’s family he wished it was him, rather than Barden, that died.

The victim’s mother and two sisters were present in court Monday for the men’s sentencing. Barden’s sister, Kimberly Barden, said her brother was a good man, brother and son. She said her brother had plans for his life before it was so tragically cut short.

District Attorney Dewey Hudson has called Barden’s murder “senseless” and the arrest and conviction of the individuals involved a relief to the surrounding community and the teen’s family.

“This office appreciates the cooperation and hard work of the Warsaw Police Department and the State Bureau of Investigation in solving this case and helping bring these four defendants to justice,” Hudson said in a prepared statement. “It is hoped that these pleas and sentences will help provide some closure to the victim’s family and city of Warsaw.”

Chris Berendt can be reached at 910-592-8137, ext. 121, or by email at sicrime@myclintonnc.com.