Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, January 7, 1992 TAG: 9201070125
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV5 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: KATHY LOAN NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: PULASKI LENGTH: Medium
PULASKI MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO MURDER
Jerry Lee Harrelson pleaded guilty Monday in Pulaski County Circuit Court to the second-degree murder of James Robert Parnell.Harrelson, 28, of the 600 block of Dora Highway in Pulaski, was charged in May in the slaying of James Robert Parnell, 37, also of Dora Highway.
The case was scheduled for a jury trial, but Harrelson accepted a plea agreement Monday morning.
Judge Dow Owens sentenced Harrelson to 20 years in prison with 12 years suspended on the murder conviction, and to two years in prison for the use of a firearm in commission of a felony.
Harrelson will be placed on probation for seven years after serving 10 years in prison.
Parnell was found with bullet wounds to his chest, side and back, Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Doug Schroder said. The body was lying next to a small camping trailer he had been renting.
Public Defender Cynthia Dodge said the plea agreement took into consideration Harrelson's allegations of self-defense, along with the fact that five shots were fired. Dodge said there also were allegations that the victim sexually abused one of Harrelson's family members. The alleged sexual offense had been reported to police, Dodge said.
A Pulaski police sergeant said at a September preliminary hearing that Harrelson told police he had wanted only to talk to Parnell when he went to the trailer.
Sgt. Ed Hogston testified that Harrelson said Parnell started cursing and swinging his fists, hitting Harrelson in the chest. Hogston testified that Harrelson said he backed away from Parnell, pulled the .22-caliber revolver he was carrying and fired five shots, hitting Parnell three times.