The first of three people charged in connection with an alleged drug deal and attempted robbery that resulted in the death of a local man last year pleaded guilty to felony charges Tuesday and was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Malik Deon Blevins, 22, of Mountain Pine, who was set to stand trial May 14, pleaded guilty in Garland County Circuit Court to manslaughter and was sentenced to the maximum of 10 years, and robbery, reduced from an original charge of aggravated robbery, and sentenced to the maximum of 20 years, with the sentences to run concurrently.
An alleged accomplice, Mochariee Kewanna West, 23, of Hot Springs, is set to stand trial Aug. 7 on the same charges as Blevins. She had pleaded not guilty to the charges April 12, 2017, and is free on $25,000 bond pending trial. She was arrested Feb. 9, 2017, and Blevins was arrested the next day.
Dylan Wayne Carpenter, 21, of Hot Springs, is set to stand trial June 27 on charges of second-degree murder, committing a terroristic act and first-degree battery in the Jan. 15 shooting death of Quadryon Gipson, 20, of Hot Springs, in the parking lot of Behind the Mall Cinema, 4501 Central Ave.
Carpenter, who turned himself in Jan. 24, 2017, pleaded not guilty to the charges on April 3, 2017, and is free on $150,000 bond pending trial.
Gipson was shot once in the abdomen and later died from his injuries, and Blevins was shot in the knee during an alleged confrontation in the parking lot involving Carpenter. Earlier Hot Springs police reports indicated Gipson and Blevins had gone to the location to meet Carpenter and "an altercation occurred," during which Carpenter pulled out a .45-caliber handgun, shot both men, and fled the scene.
According to the probable cause affidavits, on Jan. 15, shortly after 9 p.m., police responded to the scene to a report of shots fired and learned upon arrival one gunshot victim, later identified as Gipson, had been taken by private vehicle to CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs.
Officers went to the hospital and were told Gipson had died from his injuries. Officers then made contact with Blevins and West. Blevins stated he was with Gipson in the parking lot when the shooting occurred. West stated she was also at the theater when it happened and drove Gipson and Blevins to the hospital in her 2005 Ford Explorer.
Witnesses had reported seeing a white male, later identified as Carpenter, run away from a black Ford Explorer after the shots were fired, get into a silver Ford Mustang and flee the scene. They were able to get the license plate number of the Mustang. A black "handgun style" BB gun was located in the parking lot next to two shell casings, the affidavit states.
In a later interview, Blevins stated he and Gipson went to the theater with West to purchase narcotics from Carpenter. When asked why Gipson was carrying a BB gun, Blevins said Gipson had planned to rob Carpenter.
Search warrants were later obtained for cellphones belonging to Blevins and Gipson and text messages were located on each phone that spoke about the plan to meet with Carpenter, the affidavit states.
"The conversations spoke further about robbing Carpenter during the meeting," it states, noting the conversations were reportedly between Gipson, Blevins and West. At one point, Blevins told Gipson "to bring his CO2," referring to the BB gun. Warrants were later issued for West and Blevins.
Local on 05/10/2018